The second of 11 events in the 2007-08 Witt Series, McNutt discussed research findings on the subject of global warming. She said it has become a necessity to explore how the environment is impacted from an oceanographic perspective. "The climate system is such a complicated system," McNutt said. "Human civilization is not ready for major changes in climate. We're going to have to learn how to plan in advance." With more than 70 percent of the planet made up of ocean water, McNutt and fellow researchers have realized the importance of evaluating how oceans would be affected by global warming. The oceanic changes, according to McNutt, have led her and other researchers to wonder whether or not the world has arrived at some sort of "ecological tipping point," due to increasing amounts of carbon dioxide oceans absorb from the burning of fossil fuels. If the pattern continues, McNutt said she expects the continued loss of coral reefs and animals with shells. "Ocean acidification will be the ocean crisis of the 21st century," she said. "Climate change is not about survival of the planet; the planet will survive on its own. It is about survival of the human race." Written By: Erica Strauss '08
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