Ocean scientists are calling on governments to invest in a new monitoring system for the seas by 2015 in order to provide alerts for various environmental issues such as tsunamis and acidification. They believe that better oversight would bring economic benefits and help understand the impact of over-fishing and shifts in weather patterns. The scientific alliance, Oceans United, will present this request to governments meeting in Beijing in November. Jesse Ausubel, a founder of POGO, stated that most experts believe the future ocean will be saltier, hotter, more acidic, and less diverse, emphasizing the importance of measuring changes in the oceans. POGO stated that establishing a global ocean monitoring system would require $10 to $15 billion upfront and $5 billion annually. Currently, an estimated $1 to $3 billion is spent on monitoring the oceans. Tony Knap, a leader of POGO, acknowledged that the new funding may seem excessive during times of austerity, but emphasized that it could prevent larger losses. For example, in Japan, a $100 million system of subsea cables has been credited with potentially averting 7,500-10,000 out of 25,000 projected fatalities in the event of a major subsea earthquake. Knap noted that while the cost of installing the cables may seem high, the impact on saving lives should be the priority. According to Ausubel, obtaining new funding could help enhance various ongoing projects, such as satellite monitoring of ocean temperatures, tracking devices on marine animals like dolphins, salmon, and whales, and the implementation of tsunami warning systems in certain countries. Ausubel compared these initiatives to the historical benefits of lighthouses and aids for navigation, stating that they are the modern-day equivalent in the 21st century. One concerning development is that surface waters in the oceans have become 30% more acidic since 1800, largely attributed to the rise in carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere from the burning of fossil fuels. This could create difficulties for creatures like lobsters, crabs, shellfish, corals, and plankton in constructing their protective shells, ultimately impacting other marine species.