OPPORTUNITIES

ANGELES ALVARIÑO

California, 1987

Arrow worms, umbrella jellyfish, siphonophores.

I’ve spent my whole life studying these three

groups of creatures that dwell in deep oceans.

When I was a professor in Spain, I had no idea

that I would be offered a chance to work

in San Diego.

Now I’ve shown how certain jellyfish

are particularly sensitive to fluctuations

in water temperature.

Climate change?

Is such a thing possible?

If the trends I’ve noticed are true,

then we need to seize

every opportunity

to figure out why

the world’s oceans

are growing warmer,

so that we can discover

scientific ways

to protect

nature.