Green Corner
A multitude of fish darting to and fro among the rainbow hues of a coral reef. The majesty of a breaching humpback whale, sending up an icy spray in the polar seas. Walking down a beach and seeing the shells and scuttling crabs left behind by the retreating tide.
These are all scenes displaying the richness of our oceans. Covering over 70 percent of the Earth’s surface and comprising 99 percent of its living space, oceans influence almost every aspect of life on our planet. The seas play a major role in driving the water cycle and weather patterns; phytoplankton living in the ocean produce over half of our atmosphere’s oxygen. Not only did life evolve from the seas—it depends on them.
The importance of our oceans is undeniable, yet climate change and pollution threaten to throw off their delicate balance. At DORSAL, we are committed to learning about these amazing ecosystems and their preservation in a changing world. During our weekly meetings, we read articles describing the latest events affecting the ocean, such as Hurricane Matthew, and watch documentaries on diverse marine environments and their impact on the world. We hold discussions on everything from overfishing to how polar bears get water.
In addition to our discussion meetings, we also take field trips to observe marine life and environments. In previous years, DORSAL has worked with UNH’s Coastal Habitat Restoration Team to plant beach grass on Plum Island. Last year, we also visited the New England Aquarium in Boston. We are planning to make the aquarium trip again this spring, and hope to make trips to our local beaches as well.
On campus, we’re also considering the start of some projects that would raise awareness of marine issues; some examples include making displays showing the effects of ocean acidification and the ramifications of eating certain fish. By pursuing these projects, we hope to show everyone that the ocean touches our lives more ways than we may think.
DORSAL meets every Tuesday from 7 to 8 p.m. in the Academy Center’s TV Lounge. If you have any questions or would like to join, you can contact Keyu Cao (kcao@exeter.edu), Ben Ralston (bralston@exeter.edu), or Gabriel Byan (gbyan@exeter.edu).