A group of international scientists has urged governments to back the development of technology for monitoring the world's oceans.

The Partnership for Observation of the Global Oceans (POGO) wants a new system in place within ten years.

It warns that unless better monitoring of the world's oceans is given the necessary priority, human safety and prosperity are at risk.

South African oceanographer John Field, who chairs the scientific committee of the Global Ocean Observing System, said: "In the first few decades of this century we can develop an ocean observing system comparable in value to the system we so appreciate for our weather forecasts."

One of the issues the scientists are keen to monitor is climate change. They point out that the oceans not only provide important data about the impact of a warmer climate, but also play a crucial role in combating rising carbon levels.

Microscopic ocean life-forms consume 50 giga-tonnes of carbon every year, which is around the same amount as the planet's plants and trees.

Climate change is an increasing concern for the insurance industry with the process blamed for an increase in freak weather events.

Britain experienced this first-hand earlier this year, with devastating floods wrecking thousands of homes and businesses and costing insurers £3 billion.

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