Same ol sad story about the world's reef

[Len]

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/07 ... index.html

Almost half the coral reef ecosystems in United States territory are in poor or fair condition, mostly because of rising ocean temperatures, according to a government report released Monday.

:?

 

[Len]

And another:

http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2008 ... ed_content

Coral reefs, nature's most lively architecture, could come tumbling down and it could take millions of years for them to return, if carbon dioxide emissions aren't cut quickly, scientists warned today.

The world's oceans have absorbed 40 percent of the carbon dioxide emissions produced by humans in the industrial age, but that buffering is changing the chemistry of the oceans. Already, the acidity of ocean waters, which are generally basic, has shifted about 0.1 on the pH scale, or 10 percent, since pre-industrial times, and could get far more acidic by mid-century.

 

[Anonymous]

Almost half the coral reef ecosystems in United States territory are in poor or fair condition, mostly because of rising ocean temperatures,

Incredibly unlikely.

 

[Anonymous]

I thought a major reason was run off from civilized area causing uncontrollable algae blooms (both macro and micro)

But hey I'm sure there are quite a few reasons.

 

[camaroracer214]

there are several reasons for coral decline worldwide...and most of them are anthropogenic.

-increased ocean temperatures (due to man influenced and natural global warming)
-increased ocean acidification (again, due to increased co2 in the air)
-run off from rivers and rain water...loaded down with nutrients from farms and pollution
-increase in coral predators
-increase in algae cover due to excess nutrients or decreasing amount of grazing activity

 

[Ben1]

I thought a major reason was run off from civilized area causing uncontrollable algae blooms (both macro and micro)

But hey I'm sure there are quite a few reasons.

I can agree with that. I dive a lot in the BVI and last time our nieghbor decided to build a new villa he cleared a big plot of land, and the next big rainstorm turned the bay brown, the reef was coated in sediments. Inbetween that and the dumb ass boaters anchoring on the reef (so tempting to do some night diving, anchor line cutting) the reef infront of the house is pretty much destroyed.

If I want a nice dive I need to go either to the north side of the island that is un-inhabited and facing open ocean or way out to some of the outer lying islands that are away from all the caribbean development.

And the run off their is from basic sediment, I am sure in area with factorys its much worse. I still can find some A. palmata's around in certain areas but less and less. Ive dove some days and looked at nice brain type corals, then done the same dive the next day and seen the same corals overturned by anchors pulling them up. Even this small scale destruction bothers me a great deal. When I can dive a reef and pull bags full of cans, rope, bottles, beach towels, etc. off of them it makes me sick.

I want to take all that trash and leave it on the beach where the tourist can see their impact.

Sorry for the rant.

 

[Lars]

[/quote]Already, the acidity of ocean waters, which are generally basic, has shifted about 0.1 on the pH scale, or 10 percent

If the pH scale is 0-14 how is .1 10%? Wouldnt it be more like .7%? I'm not sure I trust "The Scientists"

 

[camaroracer214]

pH is based on a logarithmic scale. doing simple calculations to determine a percentage doesn't work for this scale.