麻豆影视

Climate and Environment

    • What is blue carbon and why is it vital for mitigating Canada's carbon emissions?

    Share

    Marlow Pellatt spent time on Vancouver Island, taking samples of soil from deep underground and wading through water to understand the biodiversity in the area.

    To an onlooker, it may seem like he鈥檚 playing in mud, but he鈥檚 actually researching how important are in Canada鈥檚 fight against climate change.

    Pellatt, a coastal ecologist with Parks Canada, led a team that was part of an international effort to study and preserve coastal systems this year. The joint initiative involves Canada, the U.S. and Mexico to study "blue carbon" -- the carbon stored in marine ecosystems.

    "About a decade ago, there was interest in how these natural systems interact in the carbon cycle and what value they may have in mitigating climate change," Pellatt told CTVNews.ca in a phone interview.

    It鈥檚 widely known that plants absorb greenhouse gas (GHG) carbon dioxide as part of the photosynthesis process, creating food for the vegetation by combining sunlight and water.

    What scientists wanted to understand was how coastal plants and the soil located in mangroves, tidal salt marshes and seagrass meadows absorbed carbon and how efficient these ecosystems were in doing so.

    WHAT IS BLUE CARBON?

    It is the term scientists and researchers use to describe the carbon captured and stored in coastal and marine ecosystems. All water-based ecosystems such as wetlands, bogs and lakes absorb carbon but at a slower rate than coastal systems.

    Researchers have long understood that plants absorb carbon through photosynthesis, but they wanted to understand how to harness the carbon-capture powers of the natural world.

    As Pellatt walks around Grice Bay, a popular launch point for visitors of the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve in British Columbia, he is focused on the plants and soil at his feet. The location chosen for the research is a tidal salt marsh with eelgrass on Vancouver Island.

    "The work that we've started off with is focused on the tidal salt marshes, and the seagrass meadows mainly because those are the ones that we've got a good handle on their ability to store carbon," Pellatt said.

     

    Canada has the longest coastline in the world, spanning , including mainland and offshore island coasts. With such a vast coast, scientists believe there is so much more to understand about these valuable ecosystems.

    By coining the term blue carbon and understanding how nature absorbs and stores CO2, scientists and governments can work towards using Canada鈥檚 coastal ecosystems to their advantage in the fight against climate change.

    SO WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

    Understanding how much carbon coastal ecosystems absorb and store carbon, helps Canadians understand how to play a role in preservation.

    to reducing emissions by 40 to 45 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030. There is a further goal for Canada to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

    The most recent data from emitted 672 megatonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, a reduction from 738 megatonnes in 2019. To hit the current 2030 target, Canada needs to be between 296 megatonnes and 333 megatonnes of GHG emissions.

    If the coastal ecosystems are destroyed by natural disasters or humans, the carbon buried underground is released into the atmosphere. The Blue Carbon Initiative, an organization focused on saving coastal marine habitats, estimates when these ecosystems are degraded or destroyed as much as are released annually around the world.

    Not only is carbon released, the ecosystem no longer absorbs CO2 after destruction.

    A research article published in Science Advances in June 2021 called '' explains blue carbon ecosystems can mitigate the release of 1.7 million tonnes of CO2 by the year 2030, which is the equivalent to .

    This is why the federal government has invested in a three-year, , with a team of researchers and policy experts from Parks Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada, along with other conservation agencies. The research will help determine where the country鈥檚 blue carbon ecosystems exist, their mitigation capacity and how they adapt to climate change scenarios.

    The research paper explains that when ecosystems are disturbed, they aren鈥檛 able to absorb as much carbon. When restoration is involved, the ecosystems will bounce back but are not as efficient.

    This showcases to Canadians and governments that preserving coastal ecosystems is extremely valuable in aiding Canada to achieve its 2030 GHG emission targets.

    "These systems serve as this important, natural barrier that protects often the cities and these communities, and that that we settled on,鈥 Pellatt said. 鈥淚t's really important to understand these carbon dynamics and the biodiversity aspects, especially when we have to respond and adapt to climate change."

    Coastal ecosystems help support fishery industries by providing habitats for wildlife and act as a barricade to land from floods and storms.

    WHAT SCIENTISTS UNCOVERED IN THE MUD

    Ecosystems along coastal areas absorb carbon at a faster rate than forests, despite the total area being much smaller than Canada鈥檚 tree ecosystems. Part of the reason is the storage capacity of trees versus coastal plants.

    Where trees store CO2 in leaves and underground to feed themselves, plants in tidal salt marshes or mangroves have the ability to store carbon for thousands of years in the sediment below, which remains in ecosystems for centuries.

    Gail Chmura is a professor in the department of geography at McGill University who specializes in biogeography, paleo-ecology and wetland dynamics. For years, Chmura has studied the complex ecosystems within the Bay of Fundy along the coast of New Brunswick.

    "The muddy water comes in, sits there a bit because it's a basin鈥nd all the mud settles and the water drains," she says of the tide that comes into the Bay of Fundy. "We found in something like six years at one site, there was nearly a metre of mud that had collected, and that mud actually was trapping a lot of carbon."

    In a review published in Ecology Society of America in January 2011 called '' researchers compiled studies on coastal ecosystems and outlined where blue carbon is stored around the world.

    Underneath the top layer of plants, oyster shells and dead wood, CO2 can be located at the roots of seagrass. From samples deep inside the ground, researchers determined blue carbon is captured over the short term and stored over the long term.

    In one instance in Portlligat, Spain, researchers found carbon deposits more than 10 metres thick and over 6,000 years old. Along Canada鈥檚 coasts, researchers are confident the findings are similar, showing carbon stored deep within the soil for thousands of years.

    SALT VS FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS

    Over the years, scientists have discovered that ecosystems exposed to saltwater absorb more carbon dioxide than freshwater wetlands. So why is that?

    According to a report on the , created by Chmura, wet conditions caused by regular flooding on coasts are a reason for the efficient capturing and storing of carbon.

    "When you lose one of these ecosystems鈥 the organic matter can decompose pretty rapidly,鈥 Chmura said. "As opposed to when it's got saturated soil, you have very, very slow decomposition.鈥

    If wetlands dry up, the plant matter starts to decompose releasing methane into the atmosphere along with CO2. Both GHG emissions are harmful, but the destruction of wetlands contributes to methane pollution which is , destroying ozone layers longer. Saltwater systems do not emit as much methane.

    Although both natural ecosystems store GHG emissions and the preservation of both is needed, researchers have further questions about the coast.

    Through their research in Grice Bay, Pellatt and his team found that northern coastal ecosystems have different carbon-storing capacities than those of the south.

    鈥淢ost of the carbon is not stored in the plants, but it is stored in the sediment because of the way the plants grow,鈥 Pellatt said. 鈥淚f we think about the eelgrass in these northern systems, they tend to be smaller, their roots tend to be shallower in the sediments, and hence, they just don't have that ability to store as much carbon over the long term.鈥

    B.C.鈥檚 eelgrass beds appear to store 鈥渃onsiderably鈥 less carbon than the global average for this ecosystem, but the province鈥檚 salt marshes are on par with the global scale.

    Like previous research, Pellatt鈥檚 team determined that B.C.鈥檚 salt marshes capture and store more carbon per unit than the province鈥檚 boreal forest.

    鈥淲hen we understand what's in these salt marshes, eelgrass systems, peat systems and forests, all of this shows the value beyond resource value. It shows the value of keeping these systems intact,鈥 Pellatt said.

    CTVNews.ca Top Stories

    Why brain aging can vary dramatically between people

    Researchers are uncovering deeper insights into how the human brain ages and what factors may be tied to healthier cognitive aging, including exercising, avoiding tobacco, speaking a second language or even playing a musical instrument.

    The union representing some 1,200 dockworkers at the Port of Montreal has overwhelmingly rejected a deal with their employers association.

    A man who was critically injured in a police-involved shooting in Hamilton late Sunday afternoon has died in hospital, says the province鈥檚 police watchdog.

    Canada

    World

    Politics

    • Murray Sinclair鈥檚 family members say the late justice and senator has been laid to rest according to his wishes.

    • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced voters in Cloverdale鈥擫angley City will pick their next member of Parliament on Dec. 16.

    Health

    Sci-Tech

    Entertainment

    Business

    Lifestyle

    Sports

    Autos

    Local Spotlight

    For the second year in a row, the 鈥楪ift-a-Family鈥 campaign is hoping to make the holidays happier for children and families in need throughout Barrie.

    Some of the most prolific photographers behind CTV Skywatch Pics of the Day use the medium for fun, therapy, and connection.

    A young family from Codroy Valley, N.L., is happy to be on land and resting with their newborn daughter, Miley, after an overwhelming, yet exciting experience at sea.

    As Connor Nijsse prepared to remove some old drywall during his garage renovation, he feared the worst.

    A group of women in Chester, N.S., has been busy on the weekends making quilts 鈥 not for themselves, but for those in need.

    A Vancouver artist whose streetside singing led to a chance encounter with one of the world's biggest musicians is encouraging aspiring performers to try their hand at busking.

    Ten-thousand hand-knit poppies were taken from the Sanctuary Arts Centre and displayed on the fence surrounding the Dartmouth Cenotaph on Monday.

    A Vancouver man is saying goodbye to his nine-to-five and embarking on a road trip from the Canadian Arctic to Antarctica.

    • Weather watchers were treated to an exceptionally rare display on Friday evening as rare cloud formations filled Vancouver skies.

    • For some shoppers it was Nov. 1, but for others the first hints of Christmas - saccharine treats, festive-fragranced candles and gaudily wrapped gift sets - were being noticed in stores long before the final Halloween decor had been cleared.

    • Thousands of people are expected to gather in downtown Vancouver on Monday to observe the city鈥檚 100th Remembrance Day ceremony.

    • Toronto is expected to see an economic boost to the tune of nearly $300 million thanks to Taylor Swift鈥檚 upcoming Eras Tour, which will be making a stop in Canada鈥檚 largest city for a six-show run later this month.

    • One man was transported to hospital early Monday morning after a stabbing in the northwest end of the city, Toronto police say.

    • A man who was critically injured in a police-involved shooting in Hamilton late Sunday afternoon has died in hospital, says the province鈥檚 police watchdog.

    • A pair of 105-mm howitzers bark constantly as they turn plywood tank targets into kindling kilometres away on the windswept landscape of one of Canada's largest military bases.

    • Two semis were among the vehicles involved in a multi-vehicle crash that brought westbound traffic along Stoney Trail Northwest to a standstill on Sunday.

    • More than 700 people danced, ate, and sang to celebrate Diwali Saturday night at the Genesis Centre in northeast Calgary.

    • NEW THIS MORNING

      NEW THIS MORNING

      An Ottawa boy with a rare disease will be getting the chance to see Taylor Swift in concert after the winner and organizers of an auction held on his behalf gifted the tickets to him.

    • After months of controversy surrounding a dog park in Ottawa's west end, a solution has been reached to divide the park in half.

    • CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at Remembrance Day ceremonies in Ottawa.

    • An elementary school in Greenfield Park on Montreal鈥檚 South Shore is closed after it was the target of an alleged arson attack.

    • Some 12,000 daycare workers are set to begin their strike action Monday morning.

    • Two vehicles were set on fire in Montreal鈥檚 east end Riviere-des-Prairies neighbourhood.

    • Monday is Remembrance Day, a time to honour armed forces members who have died in the line of duty.

    • Boasting 2,300 square metres of skating space at its new location, Edmonton's Rollers Roller Rink believes it is the largest in Canada.

    • A woman is dead after a driver crashed a truck through a Boston Pizza in Fort McMurray late Saturday morning.

    • A pillar in Canada鈥檚 history was honoured in Winnipeg Sunday afternoon, with thousands showing up to pay tribute to the life and legacy of the late Murray Sinclair.

    • Winnipeg police have identified two men involved in a stabbing incident earlier this week.

    • The Winnipeg Blue Bombers whipped the Saskatchewan Roughriders 38-22 in Saturday's CFL West Division final to earn their fifth consecutive trip to the Grey Cup.

    • Regina author Valerie Crowther is celebrating the release of her book 鈥榃ar Letters: Linking Lives in the Second World War.鈥

    • It was a somber day at Mosaic Stadium as members of the Saskatchewan Roughriders officially cleaned out their stalls and closed the book on the 2024 season.

    • Twilight Tech Arcade, an entertainment location specializing in retro gaming, is closing its doors for the foreseeable future.

    • A man has been charged after a stabbing at an apartment building in Kitchener.

    • The Guelph Police Service is putting out a warning after two deaths in the downtown area.

    • Two new tributes to Canada鈥檚 veterans have been unveiled at the Elmira Cenotaph.

    • Saskatchewan RCMP are searching for a suspect after a man was seriously injured in a farm-related incident in Montreal Lake.

    • It was a somber day at Mosaic Stadium as members of the Saskatchewan Roughriders officially cleaned out their stalls and closed the book on the 2024 season.

    • The Regina Rams claimed the Hardy Cup after a hard fought battle against the Saskatoon Huskies 19-14 on Saturday in the first all Saskatchewan U-Sports western conference final since 2002.

    • CTVNewsNorthernOntario.ca is livestreaming the annual Remembrance Day ceremony at the Sudbury Community Arena starting Monday at 10:30 a.m.

    • Police have arrested a 15-year-old in connection with a break-in and $50,000 in damage done to the Centennial Arena in Elliot Lake in September.

    • Emergency crews responded to the scene on Road 68/Highway 2 east of Thamesford around 7 p.m.

    • On Friday, the Sarnia Police Service (SPS) received a report of an alleged abduction in the area of Kathleen Avenue and Walnut Avenue.

    • The events will start at 10:15 a.m. with a parade that forms up in front of the Delta London Armories, marches east on Dundas Street and turns north onto Waterloo Street to Dufferin Avenue, the west to the Cenotaph.

    • A group of former NHL players faced off against York Regional Police officers in Newmarket Sunday afternoon to raise funds for Special Olympics programs across the province.

    • A driver is facing multiple charges after a multi-vehicle collision on Highway 400 early Sunday morning.

    • The agreed statement of facts was read to the court on Friday in the case of Alex Williams, the 24-year-old jail guard charged last fall with smuggling cannabis and tobacco into Central North Correctional Centre in Penetanguishene.

    • One person has been arrested after Chatham-Kent Police Service (CKPS) received multiple complaints about an alleged drunk driver.

    • More details have been released about a police investigation at the Ambassador Bridge that connects Windsor, Ont. and Detroit, MI.

    • An individual is dead following a collision involving a motorcycle in Kingsville.

    • Environment Canada says heavy rain and winds could cause power outages on Vancouver Island as an "intense" storm system is set to hit the B.C. coast Sunday.

    • Six deer were struck by vehicles in six different locations in a six-hour period on B.C. highways on Saturday, according to the transportation ministry.

    • The union for locked-out port workers in British Columbia says the BC Maritime Employers Association cut off talks in less than an hour Saturday, refusing to budge on a final offer that the union has so far rejected.

    • The emergency department at South Okanagan General Hospital in Oliver, B.C., will be closed for 31 hours this weekend, the second such closure in a week and the third since the start of November.

    • Police in Kamloops, B.C., are reminding parents and guardians to check their children's Halloween candy after receiving a report of a mother finding a razor blade in one of her daughter's treats.

    • More than two years after Alannah Brown and Douglas Barker were found dead north of Penticton, police are asking for help identifying a vehicle they believe was associated with the crime.

    • The Southern Alberta Recreation Association is officially announcing the Town of Taber as next year鈥檚 host for the Southern Alberta Summer Games.

    • The Lethbridge Hurricanes broke open a close game with three goals in the first two minutes of the third period as they defeated the Warriors 7-3 in a game played Friday night in Moose Jaw.

    • There might not a lot snow just yet, but many southern Albertans are still itching to get outdoors.

    • Police have arrested a 15-year-old in connection with a break-in and $50,000 in damage done to the Centennial Arena in Elliot Lake in September.

    • Mayors of the five largest cities in northern Ontario met in North Bay the last two days to discuss a range of critical issues impacting their cities and the region.

    • Residents in the Sault expressed concerns ranging from vandalism to privacy invasions during recent consultations on the city's plan to install automated speed enforcement cameras.

    N.L.

    Shopping Trends

    The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at 麻豆影视. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop.聽Read about us.

    Stay Connected
    Follow 麻豆影视