This Flagship increases our understanding of the ocean’s role in the climate system and its response to climate change.
This includes research into the ocean’s potential to mitigate climate change through enhanced carbon uptake. It includes how the oceans will drive change in Antarctica, and the feedback from changes in Antarctica on the global oceans.
The need for this research arises from shifts already occurring in the ocean-climate system, with further changes anticipated in the future. These changes and their impacts are potentially significant, and new research insights are critically needed. Ultimately, this research will inform climate adaptation and mitigation strategies and the management of marine ecosystems, ensuring that New Zealand and the Pacific can effectively respond to and mitigate the impacts of climate change. It will support the development of the marine carbon dioxide removal industry, both through direct support for customers and establishment of safe operating parameters.
Specifically, this Flagship will investigate how oceanic changes influence weather patterns, sea level rise, and marine ecosystems enabling the marine economy and coastal communities to plan for change and the opportunities it provides. Cutting-edge research methodologies and technologies will be used to quantify the intricate dynamics of ocean flows, productivity, and the ocean's role in carbon dioxide absorption.
