John J. Cullen

I'm afraid that this is why the US administration wants to shut down ocean observations: they don't want the people to know what is happening in our oceans, as it does not fit their ideology and the interests of their fossil fuel industry funders. edition.cnn.com/2026/06/03/c...

Someone who doesn't know much about oceanography asked me if the dismantling of ocean monitoring capabilities was stupid and/or evil. It is stupid AND evil. The War on Science continues. As more people see it and push back, maybe the tide can be turned. 🌊🧪 www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Progress update from the War on Science

Reposting this because I forgot 🌊 and 🧪. My point is that it is bedrock scientific fact that marine biomass for consumption is not CDR, so studies making that particular assumption should not pass peer review or due diligence. Thanks to @jaytcullen.bsky.social for the reminder.

A fundamental fact should have stopped the original publication in its tracks: The organic carbon in oyster biomass is not mCDR. We eat it, use it, and exhale most of it as CO2. That's what animals do — organic carbon in, carbon dioxide out. What we don't use goes to sewage —> greenhouse gases.

Read @agu.org's denunciation of the news here: fromtheprow.agu.org/agu-denounce...

As James says, this isn't even about climate. It's about all the tools, platforms, models, datasets we use to study and forecast weather and understand how it impacts people, too.

Dismantling NCAR @ncar-ucar.bsky.social is a bad decision for many reasons. NSF’s investment in NCAR scientists, technical staff, facilities and research products supports and catalyzes atmosphere, ocean, and Earth system science across the nation and world with a substantial ROI.

🌊 Last night, Hervé Claustre was awarded the Prince Albert I Medal for his scientific contributions to the @bgc-argo.bsky.social programme. Congratulations to him on this well-deserved honour, and a wonderful recognition for #Argo too. @imev-mer.fr @cnrs.fr @oceanomonaco.bsky.social #OneArgo

"Runctitiononal features"? "Medical fymblal"? "1 Tol Line storee"? This gets worse the longer you look at it. But it's got to be good, because it was published in Nature Scientific Reports last week: www.nature.com/articles/s41... h/t @asa.tsbalans.se

🌊 Post from Jay Cullen took me to the PNAS article on oyster farming as mCDR. Seems that farmed oyster biomass is counted as sequestered carbon for climate change mitigation. No mention of what happens to oyster carbon after we eat it. Maybe I read it wrong. www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

If due-diligence of mCDR investors included solid engagement with expert ocean scientists like Hurd and others – who have years of experience and publish peer-reviewed research – the cycle of hype and waste might be replaced with a better path to solutions. 🌊 www.canarymedia.com/articles/car...

The arguments about uncertain global effects and limited efficacy have been supported by others for years. One more thing: if harmful blooms or hypoxic fish kills happen anywhere that is influenced by OIF, legal fingers will point, deservedly or not. Who will underwrite liability insurance? 🌊

The US does not stand for freedom and democracy any more, but is sliding fast into tyranny. Harvard is punished for standing up to this. If you’re in the US and not doing something now, soon you will be unable to do anything. We know this from experience here in Germany.

Congratulations to Philip Boyd FRS! FYI, he is a leading expert on marine CDR. His publications have revealed what we know, what we don’t, and what we must learn and do before proceeding with ocean manipulations. Essential science that can cut through hype. 🌊🧪 www.utas.edu.au/about/news-a...

Does this scare you like it scares me? www.fda.gov/news-events/...

👿 NSF in Turmoil: Radical Reorganization, Removal of Directors, Forced Layoffs 🧪 Follows take over by DOGE #SaveNSF science.org

🔔BREAKING🔔 The NSF has frozen all research grant awards—cutting off life-saving science midstream and demanding ideological screenings for future funding. This is censorship disguised as oversight. Here’s how you can help us spread the word ➡️🧵(1/3): www.nature.com/articles/d41...

I was in the process of hiring a postdoc, so this severely affects her career because now she has to look for something else. It also means I can't pay my existing people, can't buy supplies for the lab, and can't travel. Every NSF-funded researcher will be in the same boat soon.

Delighted to see that Scott Doney has been honored with election to the NAS. His research represents truly interdisciplinary oceanography at its best, he has been a standout in public service, and (dare we say this about scientists?) he is a model of generosity and kindness. Congrats, Scott! 🌊🧪

PhD Timeline xkcd.com/3081

Many data sets held by NOAA are being "retired" in may, including datasets relevant to ocean sciences and climate. If you have need for these data, or are an archivist, it would be good to download this now. PLEASE SHARE WIDELY. www.nesdis.noaa.gov/about/docume...

The Act prohibits actions that “harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect” endangered species. Right now, “harm” includes damage to a species’ habitat—but the Trump administration is attempting to strip habitat destruction from that definition.

NOAA just announced a long list of datasets that are going away🧪⚒️🌊: www.nesdis.noaa.gov/about/docume... Download what you need asap and send comments to: ncei.info@noaa.gov

This administration continues to outdo itself by doing really really dumb things. Princeton has one of the best climate modeling groups in the world, and this administration just cut their funding justified with some anti-science bs.

Those critical International Maritime Organisation discussions on a pathway to greener shipping just had a major bombshell dropped on them: www.lloydslist.com/LL1153123/La... This is a rare opportunity to make real progress. They don’t need unanimous agreement, but the threats could change minds.

The election has just been called for April 28. If you are a Canadian living outside the country, get your mail-in ballot here ASAP: travel.gc.ca/travelling/l...

As we watch Trump's attack on universities, remember that Poilievre promises to appoint a "Free Speech Guardian" for universities. A university could lose its federal funding if this politically appointed "guardian" recommends it.

This is bananas. 'Canadian researchers are asked to confirm that their research: - does not include a climate or “environmental justice” component - does not contain diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) elements - does not ascribe to “gender ideology' 🧪 🌎 www.globenewswire.com/news-release...

Got potash? 🇨🇦

If this looks old it's because it's been up there a while.

This is fascinating. Give it a read!

Tommy Dickey (1945-2025). When he started out, oceanography was pursued in disciplinary silos, bio-optical oceanography did not exist, and robotic observation of global ocean biogeochemistry was not yet a dream. Tommy was central in getting us where we are today.🌊 www.geog.ucsb.edu/people/facul...

First Ocean Sciences Meeting outside the US is a big deal. As a bonus, no state-sponsored suppression of climate science. Neaps and tatties, too! May the force be with you, @aslo.org, @tosoceanography.bsky.social, @agu.org. 🌊🧪

Non-scientists need to understand the current war on science and how it's being waged and whitewashed. Canada suffered such a putsch in the Harper era, when ConBot ideologues removed gov't #climate pages, shuttered StatsCan, threw books/data in a dumpster, and had oil criminals rewrite enviro laws.

www.aslo.org/aslo-comment...

Rick Spinrad leaves NOAA on the high road as a beacon of excellence in leadership, service, science and civility. A shining example to us all. Thank you, Rick -- and fair winds. 🌊🧪 www.linkedin.com/posts/richar...

The Alchemy of Air by Thomas Hager is a first-rate story of science, technology, society, and survivability of the human race. The lessons about what happened when big institutions (including universities) appeased the regime to stay in good favor are ominously relevant.

Mary Somerville was born on 26 December 1780. Among her many accomplishments, she described foundational principles of ocean optics – including the influence of phytoplankton on ocean color. The 20th century pioneers of ocean-color remote sensing were unaware. She was far ahead of her time. 🌊🧪

Frenger et al. (doi/10.1111/gcb.17124) remind us that export flux of organic C by the biological pump cannot be equated to the flux of atmospheric CO2 to the ocean. We must account for upward transport of DIC, including DIC:N:P in vertically transported nutrients. Read quote from classic 1979 paper.