“If we were marine mammals, we’d be paying much more attention to what’s happening beneath the waves.”

By Lee Juillerat for Ashland.news

“Heat Beneath the Waves: How Climate Change Transforms Our Seas,” is the topic for the Southern Oregon Climate Action Now’s next monthly general meeting, held at 6 p.m. Tuesday Oct. 28, at the Medford library, 205 S Central Ave., Medford.

Dr. Bill Gorham, who is a marine biologist, South Coast resident and SOCAN board member, will lead the discussion.

 “In some respects, our oceans are saving us from the worst that global warming is imposing on us. But they are paying a price,” said Alan Journet, SOCAN’s co-facilitator. “Every day we see examples of how our warming planet is affecting our homes, fields, forests, deserts and mountains. But we often forget over 70% of our planet.”

“Our oceans seem so large and formidable that little could disrupt them. But our oceans are huge assets as we terrestrial organisms benefit from their retaining over 90% of the heat generated from global warming and absorbing a third of the carbon dioxide we emit,” he added. “Without our oceans, the atmosphere would be tens of degrees hotter than currently. If we were marine mammals, we’d be paying much more attention to what’s happening beneath the waves.”

As a result, Journet emphasized that oceans continue to warm, though not as quickly as the atmosphere.

“Meanwhile, as they suck up carbon dioxide, our oceans become more acidic,” he said. “The impacts of these trends spell trouble for our fisheries and coastal economies, and for marine life generally.”

SOCAN was founded in 2012 with a goal to “educate and mobilize our region to address the causes and consequences of climate change. Through a blend of public outreach and policy advocacy, we strive to empower individuals and communities to engage in climate action,” according to the SOCAN website.

The SOCAN board includes president Hogan Sherrow, treasurer Kathy Conway, secretary Dale Engle, Alan Journet, Liz Olson, Bill Gorham, Dagoberto Morales, and executive director Daniel Scotton,

For more information about SOCAN visit their website at https://socan.eco/about/ There is no charge for attending SOCAN events.

Email freelance writer Lee Juillerat at [email protected].