Transcript Slide 1
American Samoa Ephraim Temple UH Sea Grant American Samoa Community College Background 62,000 people as of 2005 Land areas of 197 km2 Ocean area (EEZ) of 426,405 km2 5 volcanic islands and 2 coral atolls GDP=$510 million ($5,800 per capita) 93% Pacific Islander, 3% Asian, 1% White, 3% Other 90% of land communally owned, economy relies heavily on US trade, grants, and jobs. Tuna canneries are bulk of the private sector Unincorporated territory of the U.S. since 1900 Tutuila Insert relevant photo of your location Insert relevant photo of your location Major Environmental Issues What is the current state of the environment? Declining near-shore fisheries Impact of population growth on environment Impact of environment on human population Climate change Nitrogen loading Fossil Fuels for energy Data Collection National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration collects air temperature, wind speed and direction, dominant swell height, tides, barometric pressure, rainfall, sea surface temperature and atmospheric CO2 Data are collected by one buoy about 1 mile offshore, one station in Tafuna near the airport, and the CO2 monitoring station in Tula US and AS EPA Water quality of river and stream runoff Data Collection AS Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources Monitor coral reef health Monitor near shore and offshore fish populations Assess impact of marine protected areas on human and marine populations Monitor human response to changes in ocean conditions US National Park Service Monitor coral reef health Gauge interactions between terrestrial and marine habitats Research Needs What is the current state of the environment? Declining near-shore fisheries Ocean currents and current flow modeling, more accurate wave energy data marine resources of and biological impact of submerged barrier islands and growing island Vailulu’u relationship between hydrodynamics and larval connectivity location of important sources and sinks for marine larvae impact of MPA’s on reef populations Impact of environment on human population Tsunami inundation and flood zone mapping Research Needs Impact of population growth on environment Climate change trends in reef ecosystems in relationship to global warming Nitrogen loading toxicity of fish beyond Pago Pago Harbor impact of ballast water on native species effect of traditional waste management practices on nearshore communities Fossil Fuels for energy oceanic renewable energy resources