See other Science/Tech Articles
Title: Coral condemned to extinction by CO2 levels, warns Attenborough
Source:
Guardian
URL Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/jul/07/coral-attenborough
Published: Jan 7, 2010
Author: Alok Jha
Post Date: 2010-01-07 20:48:44 by buckeroo
Keywords: None
Views: 349
Comments: 33
David Attenborough joined scientists yesterday to warn that carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is already above the level which condemns coral reefs to extinction in the future, with catastrophic effects for the oceans and the people who depend upon them. Coral reefs support a quarter of all marine life including more than 4,000 species of fish. They also provide spawning, nursery, refuge and feeding areas for creatures such as lobsters, crabs, starfish and sea turtles. This makes them crucial in supporting a healthy marine ecosystem upon which more than 1bn people depend for food. Reefs also play a crucial role as natural breakwaters, protecting coastlines from storms. Attenborough said the world had a "moral responsibility" to save corals. He was speaking yesterday at the Royal Society in London, following a meeting of marine biologists. At the current rate of increase of atmospheric CO2, they said, coral would become extinct within a few decades. "A coral reef is the canary in the cage as far as the oceans are concerned," said Attenborough. "They are the places where the damage is most easily and quickly seen. It is more difficult for us to see what is happening in, for example, the deep ocean or the central expanses of ocean." "Anybody's who's had the privilege of diving on a coral reef will have seen the natural world at its most glorious, diverse and beautiful," said Attenborough. "[There is a] moral responsibility one has to the natural world. Also you have responsibility to future generations, to your future grandchildren and great grandchildren." Increasing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has a double effect on coral. Global warming means warmer seas, which causes the corals to to bleach, where the creatures lose the symbiotic algae they need to survive. Carbon dioxide also makes seas more acidic, which means the corals find it difficult to prevent their exoskeletons from dissolving. "We've already passed a safe threshold for coral reef ecosystems in terms of climate change. We believe that a safe level for CO2 is below 350 parts per million," said Alex Rogers of the Zoological Society of London and International Programme on the State of the Ocean, who helped organise yesterday's meeting. Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has risen from 280 ppm before the industrial revolution to around 387ppm today. Environmentalists say that any new global deal on climate must restrict the growth of CO2 levels to 450ppm, though more pessimistic scientists say that the world is heading for 550ppm or even 650ppm. "When we get up to and above 450ppm, that really means we're into the realms of catastrophic destruction of coral reefs and we'll be moving into a planetary-wide global extinction," said Rogers. "The only way to get to 350ppm or below is not only to have major cuts in CO2 emissions but also to draw CO2 out of the atmosphere through measures such as geo-engineering." Attenborough said the plight of the corals was another example of why the control of carbon was so important to the world's inhabitants. "Each ecological disaster or problem traces its cause back to carbon. To quibble about this is really fiddling while Rome burns. If we do not control the emission of carbon, this world is heading for a major catastrophe and this is one of the first to be staring us straight in the face."
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#1. To: buckeroo (#0)
No.
Y?
“Gold is the money of kings; silver is the money of gentlemen; barter is the money of peasants; but debt is the money of slaves.”
LOL. The oceans are base, they have always been base, they will always be base. Very high concentrations of CO2 did not make them acid and corals have survived much higher levels. Saying the oceans are becoming more acidic is misleading. There has been an extremely slight reduction in base. This is not the same thing as turning them acid.
"The only thing better than a Federal Reserve audit would be a Federal Reserve autopsy." ~ unknown
U no dam well y.
Is there any truth to this stuff, or not? Thanks much.
I doubt it. I used to think so. I don't now. Maybe some truth, but I think it belongs in the same category as endangered polar bears, melting glaciers, rising sea levels, and other things buck likes to push. I would ask farmfriend about it.
31 Dec 09 - New research finds that the airborne fraction of carbon dioxide has not increased either during the past 150 years or during the most recent five decades, contrary to some recent studies. See entire article" www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091230184221.htm
"One of the least understood strategies of the world revolution now moving rapidly toward its goal is the use of mind control as a major means of obtaining the consent of the people who will be subjects of the New World Order." K.M. Heaton, The National Educator
That won't stop them from making money off the idea though, or flying their jets around to sell it. They want to reduce your carbon footprint, not theirs.
I'd expect slow increases in CO2 content to be offset by increased plant growth, given that CO2 is basically plant food. I think algae is actually quite efficient at sucking carbon out of the air. Or water in this case.
No. A slight reduction in base is not the same thing as turning acid. I can get some actual numbers for you if you want but it's like saying the polar ice caps are going to melt because the temp went from minus 35 to minus 34.
"The only thing better than a Federal Reserve audit would be a Federal Reserve autopsy." ~ unknown
Hahaha nice analogy.
Thanks.
"The only thing better than a Federal Reserve audit would be a Federal Reserve autopsy." ~ unknown
Is that a "buckeroo approved site"? Can't be too careful you know. Buck refuses to accept the truth if it is on the "wrong" site.
Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end. Poor Bucky - he is left with the rest of the Glowbull Warming Crowd trying to explain away harsher than average winters as Glowbull Warming. LOL! This is getting more amusing by the moment - as they scramble and try to invent new rationales from greater intrusions on liberty and a deeper reach into people's pockets for the "con".
"One of the least understood strategies of the world revolution now moving rapidly toward its goal is the use of mind control as a major means of obtaining the consent of the people who will be subjects of the New World Order." K.M. Heaton, The National Educator
Yeah. Poor little fellow thinks that Al's got the answers and Al just barely knows the questions.
Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end.
http://www.co2science.org/education/reports/corals/coralreefs.pdf by Dr. Craig D. Idso "The only thing better than a Federal Reserve audit would be a Federal Reserve autopsy." ~ unknown
Yeah, surprise, surprise. Al Gore thinks the solution to everything is to add another tax. effin' moron.
Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end. Does that site have the Buckeroo Stamp of Approval™?
Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end. I have the buckeroo stamp of approval.
"The only thing better than a Federal Reserve audit would be a Federal Reserve autopsy." ~ unknown
Saying the oceans are becoming more acidic is misleading. The two ions that are present most often in seawater are chloride and sodium. When CO2 is combined with free chloride OR sodium, acids form. Do you remember basic chemistry concerning ph?
“Gold is the money of kings; silver is the money of gentlemen; barter is the money of peasants; but debt is the money of slaves.”
Nope. I have no clue.
“Gold is the money of kings; silver is the money of gentlemen; barter is the money of peasants; but debt is the money of slaves.”
I used to think the same. But the truth is, the depletion of an oxygen rich environment causes plant life to have little nutrients comparatively speaking. Look it up yourself.
“Gold is the money of kings; silver is the money of gentlemen; barter is the money of peasants; but debt is the money of slaves.”
Impossible.
“Gold is the money of kings; silver is the money of gentlemen; barter is the money of peasants; but debt is the money of slaves.”
Despite years of acid rain from volcanic activity falling into the oceans, the oceans have remained alkali. Historic fact. There is even evidence that slightly less alkalinity is good for shell production.
"The only thing better than a Federal Reserve audit would be a Federal Reserve autopsy." ~ unknown
I said I did not the article. So are you suggesting that you disapprove of me?
"The only thing better than a Federal Reserve audit would be a Federal Reserve autopsy." ~ unknown
I think that for the most part, volcanic activity has declined over the past 10,000 years from earlier epochs. I will need to test this objectively but I believe it so. Of course mankind's rise in population concentrations around the world shall litter the few and rare moments of volcanic activity as the MOST IMPORTANT EVENT RECORDED. You have to temper truth with exaggeration is all I am suggesting.
“Gold is the money of kings; silver is the money of gentlemen; barter is the money of peasants; but debt is the money of slaves.”
Of course not. I think the world of you most heartily and consider you a friend for life.
“Gold is the money of kings; silver is the money of gentlemen; barter is the money of peasants; but debt is the money of slaves.”
Wow, isn't that special!?!?!
Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end. I think it is.
"The only thing better than a Federal Reserve audit would be a Federal Reserve autopsy." ~ unknown
GOTO: Acidic Oceans Ahead. Plan Wisely.
“I used to think, when I was younger and didn't know any better, that surely whoever was elected the next time would be better than the current president. But I learned a long time ago that it gets worse every (s)election, not better.” -- James Deffenbach, circa Jan. 2010
"The trouble with people is not that they don't know but that they know so much that ain't so." ~ Josh Billings
#2. To: wudidiz (#1)
#3. To: buckeroo (#0)
Carbon dioxide also makes seas more acidic, which means the corals find it difficult to prevent their exoskeletons from dissolving.
#4. To: buckeroo (#0)
Author: Alok Jha
#5. To: All (#4)
Curry for brains
#6. To: buckeroo (#2)
"The trouble with people is not that they don't know but that they know so much that ain't so." ~ Josh Billings
#7. To: wudidiz (#6)
#8. To: Lod, buckeroo, farmfriend (#7)
"The trouble with people is not that they don't know but that they know so much that ain't so." ~ Josh Billings
#9. To: buckeroo, farmfriend, wudidiz, Lod, James Deffenbach, all (#0)
The trend since 1850 has been "essentially zero"
#10. To: Original_Intent (#9)
(Edited)
"The trouble with people is not that they don't know but that they know so much that ain't so." ~ Josh Billings
#11. To: buckeroo (#0)
#12. To: Lod, wudidiz (#7)
Is there any truth to this stuff, or not?
#13. To: farmfriend (#12)
...it's like saying the polar ice caps are going to melt because the temp went from minus 35 to minus 34.
"The trouble with people is not that they don't know but that they know so much that ain't so." ~ Josh Billings
#14. To: wudidiz (#13)
Hahaha nice analogy.
#15. To: Original_Intent, buckeroo (#9)
31 Dec 09 - New research finds that the airborne fraction of carbon dioxide has not increased either during the past 150 years or during the most recent five decades, contrary to some recent studies. See entire article" www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091230184221.htm
Lord Acton
#16. To: James Deffenbach, buckeroo, all (#15)
#17. To: Original_Intent (#16)
Poor Bucky - he is left with the rest of the Glowbull Warming Crowd trying to explain away harsher than average winters as Glowbull Warming. LOL!
Lord Acton
#18. To: James Deffenbach, Original_Intent, The Nest (#17)
#19. To: Original_Intent, buckeroo, wudidiz, Lod, James Deffenbach, *Agriculture-Environment* (#9)
CO2, GLOBAL WARMING AND CORAL REEFS: PROSPECTS FOR THE FUTURE
The persistence of coral reefs through geologic time – when temperatures were as much as 10-15°C warmer than at present, and atmospheric CO2 concentrations were 2 to 7 times higher than they are currently – provides substantive evidence that these marine entities can successfully adapt to a dramatically changing global environment.
#20. To: Jethro Tull (#18)
Lord Acton
#21. To: farmfriend, buckeroo (#19)
http://www.co2science.org/education/reports/corals/coralreefs.pdf
Lord Acton
#22. To: James Deffenbach (#21)
Does that site have the Buckeroo Stamp of Approval™?
#23. To: farmfriend (#3)
The oceans are base, they have always been base, they will always be base. Very high concentrations of CO2 did not make them acid and corals have survived much higher levels.
#24. To: wudidiz (#6)
U no dam well y.
#25. To: Pinguinite (#11)
I'd expect slow increases in CO2 content to be offset by increased plant growth, given that CO2 is basically plant food. I think algae is actually quite efficient at sucking carbon out of the air. Or water in this case.
#26. To: farmfriend (#22)
I have the buckeroo stamp of approval.
#27. To: buckeroo (#23)
The two ions that are present most often in seawater are chloride and sodium. When CO2 is combined with free chloride OR sodium, acids form. Do you remember basic chemistry concerning ph?
#28. To: buckeroo (#26)
Impossible.
#29. To: farmfriend (#27)
Despite years of acid rain from volcanic activity falling into the oceans, the oceans have remained alkali. Historic fact. There is even evidence that slightly less alkalinity is good for shell production.
#30. To: farmfriend (#28)
So are you suggesting that you disapprove of me?
#31. To: farmfriend (#22)
I have the buckeroo stamp of approval.
Lord Acton
#32. To: James Deffenbach (#31)
Wow, isn't that special!?!?!
#33. To: farmfriend, James Deffenbach, Original_Intent (#32)
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest