Ocean Life News in Brief: December-01-2016
Women Break Glass Ceiling In Jaws Big Wave WSL World Tour Stop
On November 11 AP reported from Honolulu that charging against violent waves in Maui Jaws an elite group of Women Athletes made history competing for the first time in the WSL Big Wave Surfing Stop. Waves at the break met expectations escalating to peaks up to 30 feet.
Triple Crown Hawaii Onto a Solid Hot Start
On November 12 WSL reported that the Vans Triple Crown kickstarted with strong, solid and big opening days. The event is part of a three event competition known as the most prestigious events for the Sport of Surf. Qualifying Series athletes are breaking into Hawaiian Pro Haleiwa for a spot in the CT World Tour. Triple Crown Men Events extend from the Hawaiian Pro to the O'Neill World Cup of Surfing at Sunset Beach and the -one of its kind Billabong Pipeline Masters at the Banzai Pipeline.
Hugo Boss Leads Packed Fleet of Vendée Globe into the Doldrums
Scuttlebutt Sailing News reported on November 13 that Hugo Boss continued to lead the pack of solo sailors going Round the World in the prestigious Vendee Globe. The British skipper Alex Thomson leads the 29-boat fleet towards a complicated, sticky Doldrums passage.
Powerful 7.8 Earthquake and Tsunami Hits New Zealand Hard
On November 13 International Press rerpoted that a powerful 7.8 earthquake struck New Zealand’s South Island, killing at least two people. A tsunami arrived about two hours later. Officials warned everyone along the eastern coast to head inland or meet higher grounds.
Volvo Ocean Race: 2017-2018 to “Create Legends”
Volvo Ocean Race -preparing for the 2017-2018 edition assured on November 10 that their race is where “Legends are Created”. Race CEO, Mark Turner spoke at the World Sailing Forum Our Sustainable Future in Barcelona, Spain about what is coming for the next Volvo Edition. Dongfeng Team from China reconfirmed their entry announcing leadership behind the talent of skipper Charles Caudrelier. Other Teams are preparing.
"Indian Ocean Major Current Loosing Strenght," Miami University Study Says
Press echoed on November 10 the results of a new study of the University of Miami UM Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science which assures that the Indian Ocean Agulhas (Needles) Current is getting wider. The Study assures that the change of the current is linked to climate change. The flow rate or transfer of water is being lost, the study assures. Consequences and full impacts are still under study.
SODEBO Ultim Trimaran Flying the South Atlantic Ahead of Breaking World Record
International Sailing Press reported on November 13 that the French Skipper Thomas Coville from France riding the 31 meter Maxi Trimaran SODEBO ULTIM is breaking into the South Atlantic in his attempt to break the Solo Round the World Record. “Sailing alongside the Brazilian shoreline, he is 406.19 nautical miles ahead of the current record of 57 days 13 hours 34 minutes 6 seconds set by Francis Joyon -also from France on the 29.8 meter Trimaran IDEC in January 2008,” Press reported.
GKA Kiteboarding Gets Green Light to Run World Championships and World Cups
World Sailing assured on November 12 that Kiteboarding is getting organized. “World Sailing, the World Governing body for the sport, the International Kiteboarding Association (IKA), and the Global Kitesports Association (GKA) have today signed an important Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to record a new governance structure for Kiteboarding,” the organization reported. GKA was given green light to run World Championships and World Cups events for the Sport of Kiteboarding.
Mysterious Beeping Sound Investigation Takes to Canadian Northern Cold Waters
National Post reported on November 10 on possible explanations to the mysterious beeping sounds which fishermen, locals and hunters of the Canadian Arctic assure to hear coming from the depths of the ocean. “One possible explanation for the mysterious sounds seemingly coming from the ocean floor in Canada’s Arctic may be ice rubbing together,” US Scientists working on a project in the area assured.
2016 World Kiteboarding League Champion to be Crowned in New Caledonia
The World Kiteboarding League warned that that the new World Kiteboarding League Champion 2016 will be decided in New Caledonia on December 14-20. The final stop of the World Tour -Clean Ocean Project Championship will be a battle for the lead between Yuri Zoon, Carlos Mario and Alex Pastor in the Men's Division and Hannah Whiteley, Bruna Kajiya and Annabel Van Westerop in the Women's Division. The League is ending the year strong after taking and broadcasting live the World Cup Fehmarn in Germany.
“Europe needs Ocean Energy,” Ocean Energy Europe Says
Ocean Energy Europe communicated on November 8 that the region needs Ocean Energy and actions are being taken to incentive growth of the sector. “Innovative finance is required to build an innovative industry,” the organization said.
NASA and ESA Digest New Water Evidence on Track of Europa 2020s Mission
On November 10 International Press reported that new evidence of ocean activity in Jupiter's Moon Europa has been unveiled by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. NASA’s Europa mission is set to launch in the 2020’s and the ESA European Space Agency “Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer” JUICE is scheduled for launch in 2022.
NASA Fleet of Small Satellites On Countdown for Launch
On November 8 NASA reported that they will be launching a new series of six next-generation small-low-cost Satellites designed to study changes happening in our Planet. Small-low-cost technology is considered key in the evolutionary natural road of NASA and space exploration. "NASA is increasingly using small satellites to tackle important science problems across our mission portfolio," Thomas Zurbuchen -Associate Administrator of NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington said.
Conservation International Focuses on Morocco Climate Change UN Talks
Conservation International reported on November 13 that with UN Climate Negotiations around the corner in Marrakech Morocco projects which help communities adapt to climate change impacts affecting lives of billions of people around the World are of paramount importance. Conservation International highlighted several active projects in the regions.
FishFace Nature Conservancy takes Google Impact Challenge Australia People's Choice
The Nature Conservancy announced late October that their project FishFace was announced a winner -People Choice of the 2016 Google Impact Challenge: Australia. “This provides us with 750,000 USD to develop our game-changing technology that will protect global fish stocks, the livelihoods of coastal communities and provide a sustainable food source for billions of people,” Nature Conservancy assured.
Great Barrier Reef Foundation Gets Funding to Protect Reef with Underwater ROVs
The Great Barrier Reef Foundation received 750 thousand USD in funding after winning a People's Choice Award at the Google Impact Challenge Australia 2016. The Foundation’s plans to deploy a low-cost robot reef protection network.
GEOMAR Breaks Into Tectonic Dynamic Mysteries with New Study
GEOMAR reported on October 28 on new evidence which will answer questions on plate dynamics working under the depths of the ocean. “How long has plate tectonics been active on Earth? What happens to the old seafloor when it is recycled at the so-called subduction zones? Using samples from a small island in the Pacific, an international team of scientists has found new answers to these questions,” GEOMAR reported. The results of their study have just been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
