Senate Approves Trimmed-Back Energy Bill
Global Warming on FreeRepublic
Posted on 12/14/2007 8:41:13 AM PST by cogitator
The journal Science has published a paper that is the most comprehensive review to date of the effects rising ocean temperatures are having on the world's coral reefs. The Carbon Crisis: Coral Reefs under Rapid Climate Change and Ocean Acidification, co-authored by seventeen marine scientists from seven different countries, reveals that most coral reefs will not survive the drastic increases in global temperatures and atmospheric CO2 unless governments act immediately to combat current trends.
The paper, the cover story for this week's issue of Science, paints a bleak picture of a future without all but the most resilient coral species if atmospheric CO2 levels continue on their current trajectory. Marine biodiversity, tourism and fishing industries and the food security of millions are at risk, the paper warns. Coral reef fisheries in Asia currently provide protein for one billion people and the total net economic value of services provided by corals is estimated to be $30 billion.
Dr. Bob Steneck, of the University of Maine and co-author of the paper, said the time was right for international leaders to commit to meaningful action to save the world's coral reefs: "The science speaks for itself. We have created conditions on Earth unlike anything most species alive today have experienced in their evolutionary history. Corals are feeling the effects of our actions and it is now or never if we want to safeguard these marine creatures and the livelihoods that depend on them."
Scientists have long thought that the effects of climate change and the resulting acidification of the oceans spells trouble for reefs. Coral skeletons are made of calcium, and reef development requires plenty of carbonate ions to build these skeletons, a process called calcification. When carbon dioxide is absorbed in the ocean, the pH level drops, along with the amount of carbonate ions, slowing the growth of coral reefs.
Atmospheric CO2 levels are currently at 380 parts per million (ppm) and the paper's authors, members of the Coral Reef Targeted Research and Capacity Building for Management Program (CRTR), calculate that once levels reach 560ppm, the calcification process could be reduced by up to 40 percent. Recent science also suggests that by 2100 the oceans will be so acidic that 70 percent of the habitat for deep-water corals, once considered relatively safe from the effects of climate change, will be uninhabitable.
Ocean acidification is just one example of the threats corals are facing. Bleaching, a process that is triggered when summer sea temperatures rise above normal for weeks at a time, causes corals to expel the algae that gives them their colour and nutrients. This phenomenon killed 16 percent of reef-building corals in 1997, according to the paper's authors. Destructive fishing methods, oil and gas exploration and pollution have also contributed to the global decline of coral reefs, with 20 percent already destroyed and another 50 percent threatened or verging on collapse in just the past few decades.
Consumer demand has also placed corals at risk. Popular products include coral jewelry, home decor items and live animals used in home aquaria. Corals grow so slowly it can take decades for them to recover, if at all. Catches of precious red corals, the most valuable of all coral species, provide a striking example of how demand for a fashion item can decimate a species. Red coral populations have plummeted 89 percent in the past two decades. Conscientious companies such as Tiffany and Co. removed real coral from their product lines over five years ago.
Fernanda Kellogg, president of The Tiffany and Co. Foundation, said, "Tiffany and Co. is committed to obtaining precious materials in ways that are socially and environmentally responsible. We decided to stop using real coral in our jewelry and feel that there are much better alternatives that celebrate the beauty of the ocean without destroying it."
Yet there is hope for corals and the life that depends on them. Scientists are calling for a reduction of carbon emissions to ensure corals' survival. It is also vitally important to reduce local pressures on corals such as overfishing, removal for consumer items, and pollution. If these local pressures are addresssed, coral populations will be stronger and will have a better chance of surviving climate change. Tiffany and Co. is forming new partnerships with fashion designers, scientists and conservation organizations to raise awareness of the urgent need for coral conservation.
Dawn M. Martin, president of SeaWeb, said, "Corals belong in the ocean, not in our homes or in our jewelry boxes. Consumers and the fashion industry can play an important role in the ocean's recovery by simply avoiding purchases of red and other corals. These jewels of the sea are simply too precious to wear."
In 2008, scientists, conservationists and governments will mobilize around the world to celebrate the International Year of the Reef (IYOR), a worldwide initiative to raise awareness of the importance of corals and coral reefs. The 11th International Coral Reef Symposium will be held July 7-11, 2008, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Over 2,500 attendees from academic, government and conservation organizations are expected to attend to discuss the latest coral science and its implications for the survival of these international treasures.
Adding dry ice to the water is a quick way to add more carbonic acid to the system. But the flask should be sealed to increase CO2 in the headspace, so more dissolves in the water over time.
“Coral Reefs under Rapid Climate Change and Ocean Acidification, co-authored by seventeen marine scientists from seven different countries, reveals that most coral reefs will not survive the drastic increases in global temperatures and atmospheric CO2 unless governments act immediately to combat current trends.”
Such crap. Coral reefs have survied way warmer environments then we presently have and that these clowns are forecasting.
Finally, a compelling reason to keep the entire Third World poor and miserable, from lack of access to fossil fuels, until WE get it “right.”
Senate Approves Trimmed-Back Energy Bill
Global Warming on FreeRepublic
Adding dry ice just increases the CO2 pressure to 14.7 and an equilibrium conc. will be reached. If the flask is sealed it will most likely explode. Any drift seen on the pH meter is drift in the glass and reference electrodes.
Evolution in action. Atmospheric CO2 concentration is not going down this century, it is only going up. If this will kill coral then goodbye coral. These guys are telling horror stories about bad things happening over which we have minimal control.
Pure Eco-Porn...
Any drift seen on the pH meter is drift in the glass and reference electrodes.
Have you ever had a taste of soda water? If so, why is it "tart"?
If you put dry ice in an open glass, let it melt (actually sublimate), then taste the water, you'd discover that the water tastes tart -- because of the carbonic acid that dissolves in the water from the dry ice. The pH has to change when this happens. Seawater pH will change less, because of the buffer system. But it will change.
Hunble, this brings up a safety factor. I'd suggest doing this experiment in a plastic soda bottle. Add the dry ice in little pieces, then put a balloon around the neck of the bottle and affix it tightly with a rubber band. The ballon will inflate some, but this will keep the headspace charged with CO2 while greatly reducing the explosion risk.
Coral still has a chance if the maximum CO2 concentration in the atmosphere can be limited. It's another reason for energy efficiency and reduction of CO2 emissions.
I would argue that the American central section needs to be saved from ‘climate change’.
And if that doesn’t get people willing to comply and give up their freedoms, what will they choose next?
We’re actually well below the average temp of the earth for most of its geologic history. As it stands now, any warming is just the earth returning to its naturally warmer state. Why would we want to interfere and keep it cooler than average?
Give me global warming..... please.....
They say that we can keep global temperatures from rising 2C by cutting CO2 emissions by 25% to 80% (depending on which shaman you listen to) over 1990 levels by 2050. Do you really believe that this is even remotely possible given most of the world is over 1990 levels and the developing world is 2-3 times their 1990 levels.
Soda water is a supersaturated solution of CO2 in water. It's pH is 5 something, as is distilled water that's been exposed to the atmosphere. Once the cap's off the soda water it will release CO2 until the equilibrium conc. corresponding to the atmospheric conc. is reached.
"Seawater pH will change less, because of the buffer system. But it will change."
Seawater pH is 8.1+/-0.1, that's good enough. Calling a change within that range acidification for the purposes of justifying "serious problems" for coral is flat out BS. That's the findings of the research, which is mentioned in that paper above, which fails to include mention of the complete local system in fig2.
Once all the components of the system are included, there is no net change in CO32-, because the increase in CO2 causes an increase in dissolution. As I pointed out, the same increase in dissolution occurs locally when alkaline carbonates precipitate to form the corals. IOWs pH does not depend on alkalinity in the real system, it depends on the saturation conc of the alkaline earth components Ca and Mg and all the various dissociation constants.
Who said they did?
My point was simply that this lesson was typical of what our 6 year olds receive as their global climate change primer in schools today.
Wiki has this to say;
“Compositional differences from fresh water
Seawater is more enriched in dissolved ions of all types than fresh water. However, the ratios of various solutes differ dramatically. For instance, although seawater is ~2.8 times more enriched with bicarbonate than river water based on molarity, the percentage of bicarbonate in seawater as a ratio of all dissolved ions is far lower than in river water; bicarbonate ions constitute 48% of river water solutes, but only 0.41% of all seawater ions. Differences like these are due to the varying residence times of seawater solutes; sodium and chlorine have very long residence times, while calcium (vital for carbonate formation) tends to precipitate out much more quickly.”
Not that that enters into your tautology, yet I often wonder if you are after definition or simply attribution.
Boy, if that don’t make you humble, I can’t imagine what would. :>)
Seriously, those were the most enjoyable times of my early adventures in bacon-bringing; still miss being surrounded by people smarter than me.
“Global warming” hoax BUMP.
Pass the salt,please....thank you
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