Ocean scientists are calling for governments to invest billions of dollars by 2015 in a new monitoring system for the seas that can give alerts for various threats such as tsunamis and acidification related to climate change. The scientists believe that having better oversight would bring significant economic benefits by helping to understand the effects of issues like over-fishing and shifts in weather patterns. Oceans United, a scientific alliance, plans to present this request to governments meeting in Beijing to discuss a goal set at a 2002 U.N. Earth Summit. Jesse Ausubel, a founder of the Partnership for Observation of the Global Oceans (POGO), emphasized the urgent need to measure and monitor the changing conditions of the world's oceans. POGO stated that establishing global ocean monitoring would require $10 billion to $15 billion initially, with an additional $5 billion in annual operating costs. Currently, an estimated $1 to $3 billion is being spent on monitoring the oceans. Tony Knap, director of the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences and a POGO leader, acknowledged that the new funding may seem excessive during a time of austerity, but emphasized that it could ultimately prevent greater losses. In the case of the Japan tsunami, officials believe that the $100 million system of subsea cables for monitoring earthquakes and tsunamis could prevent 7,500-10,000 out of a projected 25,000 fatalities in the event of a major subsea earthquake. Knap highlighted that while the cost of installing the cables may seem high, it is insignificant compared to the potential lives saved. New funding could be used to expand various ongoing projects, such as satellite monitoring of ocean temperatures, tagging marine animals like dolphins, salmon, and whales, and improving tsunami warning systems in certain countries. Ausubel, a vice-president of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, compared these investments to the historical importance of lighthouses and aids for navigation. One concerning trend is the 30% increase in ocean acidity since 1800, largely attributed to rising carbon dioxide levels from fossil fuel combustion. This could potentially create challenges for creatures like lobsters, crabs, shellfish, corals, and plankton in constructing their protective shells, leading to repercussions for other marine organisms.