If you have access to the sea or a coastline, you can help researchers monitor the world’s oceans during the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond.
More than 1, 000 people have already joined the eOceans platform, which aims to help researchers gather data on oceans and ocean ecosystems in real-time. You can take part by downioading the eOceans app on your smartphone and logging. The app lets you note your observations as well as upload photos. This information is then linked to your geographical location and is made accessible to scientists studying that region.
Covid-19 restrictions on travel in many countries have made it more difficult for researchers to access and study coastlines, says Christine Ward-Paige, founder and lead scientist at eOceans. “Wben Covid-19 hit and the world went into varying levels of lockdown, we could understand what was happening in the atmosphere or on land,” says Ward-Paige. “But we had no idea what was happening in the ocean.”
Using eOceans data, researchers such as Ward-Paige can remotely monitor how oceans and coastal communities worldwide are faring, including in the context of the pandemic. She and others hope to obtain more data on wildlife spotted along coastlines.
Observations recorded through eOceans are already providing valuable insights. During Australia’s lockdown, for example, the largest swarm of turtles in the country’s history was spotted by researchers using eOceans data.
And in Hawaii, data from the app suggests that a reduction in tourists during the pandemic is associated with clearer waters.
Negative impacts of the pandemic on the ocean have also been picked up through the app, including an increase in pollution from personal protective equipment, as well as pandemic-related interruptions to the recovery of marine systems following a 2019 oil spill in Brazil’s waters. In future, data from eOceans could help enable early discovery of hazards (危害), such as oil spills, so that they can be dealt with sooner, says Ward-Paige.
She hopes this real-time monitoring will help accelerate discoveries, enabling researchers to keep pace with the rapid changes in the world’s oceans.
【小题1】What do you need to help monitor the world’s oceans?①access to a coastline ②your personal information
③a digital camera for taking photos ④a smartphone with the eOceans app downloaded
| A．①③ | B．①④ | C．②③ | D．②④ |
| A．To strengthen the Covid-19 restrictions on travel. |
| B．To offer an easier and quicker way to contact ocean researchers. |
| C．To enable the public to monitor the progress of ocean protections. |
| D．To help researchers get real-time data on oceans during the Covid-19 epidemic. |
| A．negative impacts of the pandemic on the wildlife |
| B．the influence of human activities on the environment |
| C．the effective use of eOceans data during the pandemic |
| D．the measures taken by different countries to protect the ocean |
| A．Optimistic. | B．Worried. | C．Indifferent. | D．Doubtful. |
