Coral reefs bleach under extreme heat

[Chris]

This year’s extreme heat is putting the world’s coral reefs under such severe stress that scientists fear widespread die-offs, endangering not only the richest ecosystems in the ocean but also fisheries that feed millions of people.

From Thailand to Texas, corals are reacting to the heat stress by bleaching, or shedding their color and going into survival mode. Many have already died, and more are expected to do so in coming months. Computer forecasts of water temperature suggest that corals in the Caribbean may undergo drastic bleaching in the next few weeks.

What is unfolding this year is only the second known global bleaching of coral reefs. Scientists are holding out hope that this year will not be as bad, over all, as 1998, the hottest year in the historical record, when an estimated 16 percent of the world’s shallow-water reefs died. But in some places, including Thailand, the situation is looking worse than in 1998.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/21/science/earth/21coral.html

 

[waltky]

Global warming causing damage to coral reefs...

UN: Global Warming Harms Corals Vital to Small Islands
June 05, 2014 — Global warming is causing trillions of dollars of damage to coral reefs, aggravating the risks to tropical small island states as sea levels rise, according to a United Nations report released Thursday.

Sea levels off some western Pacific islands rose by four times the global average, with annual gains of 1.2 cms (0.5 inch) from 1993 to 2012, according to the U.N.’s Environment Program. Release of the study, "Emerging Issues for Small Island Developmeng States, was timed to mark the U.N.'s World Environment Day on June 5. It came during U.N. climate change talks taking place June 4-15 in this western German city. Warming waters from the Indian Ocean to the Caribbean are damaging reefs by killing the tiny animals whose stony skeletons form them, the report said.

A toll on atolls

"These 52 nations, home to over 62 million people, emit less than 1 percent of global greenhouse gasses, yet they suffer disproportionately from the climate change that global emissions cause," said Achim Steiner, head of UNEP. "Some islands could become uninhabitable and others are faced with the potential loss of their entire territories," the study said. Loss of coral takes a costly economic toll, the report said. Coral reefs help protect coasts from storms, serve as nurseries for many types of fish and also attract tourists. In Grenada, fishermen are reporting fewer and smaller "catches in areas where there once was a thriving trade," said Roland Bhola, the country's environment minister, who is participating in the talks. "We have been able to associate that with the issues of climate change ... the destruction of our coral reefs and other ecosystems like mangroves,” he said.

A U.N. report says global warming threatens coral, such as this Gorgonian sea fan. Coral reefs buffer coastlines.

Threatened ecosystems

A study last month estimated that each hectare (2.5 acres) of the world's coral reefs provided services worth $350,000 a year. "Corals .. are probably the most threatened ecosystems on the planet," Robert Costanza, of the Australian National University and lead author of the study, told Reuters. Some people on small islands are considering moving inland because rising sea levels are causing erosion and bringing more salt onto farmland, said Jacqueline McGlade, chief scientist of UNEP. "But many of them don't have places to retreat towards," she said.

Greenhouse gases blamed

The U.N. panel of climate scientists in March said it is at least 95 percent probable that human emissions of greenhouse gases are the main cause of a rise in average world temperatures. "Addressing climate change ... is absolutely vital to the survival of small island states," Christiana Figueres, executive secretary of the U.N.’s Framework Convention on Climate Change, said at a news conference. The report said small islands could shift to abundant solar and wind power to help cut fuel import bills, which are often between 5 and 20 percent of gross domestic product. “We are doing what we can,” said Marshall Islands Environment Minister Tony de Brum, citing plans to invest in solar energy. His nation also has the world's largest shark sanctuary as part of efforts to protect nature, he added.

UN: Global Warming Harms Corals Vital to Small Islands

 

[skookerasbil]

Oh Gawd.......

Can somebody please find something for this idiot to do..........this is like me posting up a thread about finding a spot on the back of my bald head.

 

[jc456]

Global warming causing damage to coral reefs...

UN: Global Warming Harms Corals Vital to Small Islands
June 05, 2014 — Global warming is causing trillions of dollars of damage to coral reefs, aggravating the risks to tropical small island states as sea levels rise, according to a United Nations report released Thursday.

Sea levels off some western Pacific islands rose by four times the global average, with annual gains of 1.2 cms (0.5 inch) from 1993 to 2012, according to the U.N.’s Environment Program. Release of the study, "Emerging Issues for Small Island Developmeng States, was timed to mark the U.N.'s World Environment Day on June 5. It came during U.N. climate change talks taking place June 4-15 in this western German city. Warming waters from the Indian Ocean to the Caribbean are damaging reefs by killing the tiny animals whose stony skeletons form them, the report said.

A toll on atolls

"These 52 nations, home to over 62 million people, emit less than 1 percent of global greenhouse gasses, yet they suffer disproportionately from the climate change that global emissions cause," said Achim Steiner, head of UNEP. "Some islands could become uninhabitable and others are faced with the potential loss of their entire territories," the study said. Loss of coral takes a costly economic toll, the report said. Coral reefs help protect coasts from storms, serve as nurseries for many types of fish and also attract tourists. In Grenada, fishermen are reporting fewer and smaller "catches in areas where there once was a thriving trade," said Roland Bhola, the country's environment minister, who is participating in the talks. "We have been able to associate that with the issues of climate change ... the destruction of our coral reefs and other ecosystems like mangroves,” he said.

A U.N. report says global warming threatens coral, such as this Gorgonian sea fan. Coral reefs buffer coastlines.

Threatened ecosystems

A study last month estimated that each hectare (2.5 acres) of the world's coral reefs provided services worth $350,000 a year. "Corals .. are probably the most threatened ecosystems on the planet," Robert Costanza, of the Australian National University and lead author of the study, told Reuters. Some people on small islands are considering moving inland because rising sea levels are causing erosion and bringing more salt onto farmland, said Jacqueline McGlade, chief scientist of UNEP. "But many of them don't have places to retreat towards," she said.

Greenhouse gases blamed

The U.N. panel of climate scientists in March said it is at least 95 percent probable that human emissions of greenhouse gases are the main cause of a rise in average world temperatures. "Addressing climate change ... is absolutely vital to the survival of small island states," Christiana Figueres, executive secretary of the U.N.’s Framework Convention on Climate Change, said at a news conference. The report said small islands could shift to abundant solar and wind power to help cut fuel import bills, which are often between 5 and 20 percent of gross domestic product. “We are doing what we can,” said Marshall Islands Environment Minister Tony de Brum, citing plans to invest in solar energy. His nation also has the world's largest shark sanctuary as part of efforts to protect nature, he added.

UN: Global Warming Harms Corals Vital to Small Islands

So, not to be an ass, but why is it we don't see a picture of unhealthy coral since it is such a probelm. Nice to see the beautiful color of the one provided. Don't see any issue with that one. So please, could you add a post with a dying coral picture? I'd like to see what it looks like.

 

[mamooth]

From Wikipedia, bleached coral up front, same species of healthy coral behind.

 

[flacaltenn]

Show me the graphs of the water temps that did this.. Was it a 0.5degC difference? The normal shallow water system on a reef already has a natural DAILY and YEARLY variation of 3 to 6 degC..

This is more panic producing speculation..

 

[waltky]

Coral reef restoration in the Philippines...

With Reefs Under Threat, Philippines Plants Coral Colonies
March 01, 2016 — Devastated coral reefs in the Philippines are sparking an effort to have people rebuild the underwater ecosystems with putty, nails and ‘Filipinnovation’.

Researchers estimate that 70 percent of the Philippines’ corals have been damaged, so they are trying to reverse the trend. They're targeting the worst-hit areas by adding coral that has been either farmed or transplanted from more fertile reefs. Nomer Varua is part of a team at Bataan Peninsula State University that’s restoring the reefs, which he says contribute 1.5 billion dollars to his country’s economy through tourism and fishing. “Definitely, the Philippines is in danger of losing its valuable marine biodiversity,” Varua said Thursday in a presentation at the International Conference on Environment and Renewable Energy, in Ho Chi Minh City. “The Philippines needs to address the problem because we all know for a fact that corals are the most productive ecosystem on earth.” The university has teamed up with local and national governments, which provide funding, and the army, which guards areas in need of protection.

A large piece of coral in Queensland, Australia. Some say restoring the Philippines' reefs could contribute $1.5 billion to the country’s economy through tourism and fishing.​

Dynamite fishing, global warming

This is just one of many regions, especially in the Asia-Pacific, where corals are under threat from global warming, fishing with dynamite or poison, pollution, erosion, careless tourism, and coral mining. “Coral reefs have survived tens of thousands of years of natural change, but many of them may not be able to survive the havoc brought by humankind,” the World Wildlife Fund says. Under the so-called “Filipinnovation” program, researchers in the Philippines built 10 metal nurseries that looked like bed frames and covered them with epoxy paint so they wouldn't rust underwater. They attached natural corals and tended to them for months, until they grew 5-6 cm on average. The farmed corals, along with corals that hadn't been cultivated, were then installed in sparse ecosystems using marine putty, nails, and plastic cable ties. About 90 percent of the corals survived, Varua said at the conference, hosted by the Asia-Pacific Chemical, Biological & Environmental Engineering Society.

A scuba diver swims above a bed of corals off Malaysia's Tioman island in the South China Sea. Varua and his colleagues have not yet determined how their coral nurseries have been affected by the typhoons that hit the Philippines last summer.​

Giant chess match

Until recently, scientists didn't even know if such coral colonies could work, according to the Nature Conservancy. But now the organization has been able to harvest corals from its own concrete gardens, which resemble “a giant chess competition on the ocean floor.” “This innovative nursery and restoration strategy was mostly a theory a decade ago,” the Conservancy says on its website. The Nature Conservancy's experiment took place off the Florida Keys, while countries from Australia to Indonesia are testing out their own preservation strategies. In Vietnam, abusive fishing is the main culprit behind coral destruction. Officials have responded by cordoning off certain areas to protect these “rainforests of the sea,” prohibiting coral exploitation and harmful fishing. The United Nations has also recommended that Hanoi treat wastewater and other refuse, engage local communities to pitch in, develop eco-tourism, and replace creatures that prey on corals, like crown-of-thorns starfish, with more beneficial organisms, like urchins and sea snails.

Researchers estimate that 70 percent of the Philippines’ corals, such as this Gorgonian sea fan, have been damaged.​

Natural disasters

Varua and his colleagues have not yet determined how their coral nurseries have been affected by the typhoons that hit the Philippines last summer. Reefs can be decimated by cyclones, but they also can buffer nearby residents from such natural disasters. The team is nevertheless optimistic about the potential of Filipinnovation. “After the completion of this project, it is envisioned that this will jumpstart [a] coral restoration service industry,” the Bataan group wrote in an academic paper.

With Reefs Under Threat, Philippines Plants Coral Colonies

 

[jc456]

From Wikipedia, bleached coral up front, same species of healthy coral behind.

but dude/dudette, why isn't all the coral bleached?

 

[Old Rocks]

2005 – a massive coral bleaching event

The warm water temperatures caused large-scale coral bleaching as a stress response to the excessive temperatures.

Bleached corals were effectively starving and susceptible to other stresses including diseases; many died as a result. zx The first coral bleaching was reported from Brazil in the Southern Hemisphere; but it was minor.

The first bleaching reports in the Caribbean were in June from Colombia in the south and Puerto Rico in the north.

By July, bleaching reports came in from Belize, Mexico and the U.S. Virgin Islands affecting between 25% and 45% of coral colonies.

By August, the bleaching extended to Florida, Puerto Rico, the Cayman Islands, the northern Dutch Antilles (St. Maarten, Saba, St. Eustatius), the French West Indies (Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Barthelemy), Barbados and the north coasts of Jamaica and Cuba.

Bleaching in these countries was generally severe affecting 50% to 95% of coral colonies.

In some countries (e.g. Cayman Islands) it was the worst bleaching ever seen.

By September, bleaching affected the south coast of Jamaica and the Dominican Republic, with 68% of corals affected;

By October, Trinidad and Tobago was reporting 85% bleaching, and the development of a second HotSpot was causing the most severe bleaching for the last 25 years; some places reported 100%, although it was highly variable between sites;

By November, minor bleaching also affected Venezuela, Guatemala and the Dutch islands of Bonaire and Curacao, affecting 14% to 25% of corals.

In many countries (Cuba, Jamaica, Colombia, Florida, USA) there was great variation in bleaching between sites. In Florida, areas exposed to regular large temperature fluctuations, and nutrient and sediment loads were less affected. In the French West Indies, the variation was attributed to different species composition between sites.

ftp://152.19.240.127/pub/marine/brunoj/Bleaching%20papers%20for%20NCEAS%203/Caribbean_Status_Report_2005.pdf

From the 2005 coral bleaching event in the Caribbean.

 

[elektra]

From Wikipedia, bleached coral up front, same species of healthy coral behind.

From the science of moot, wiki posts, how about a blog post next.

 

[mamooth]

So 8 months ago, jc specifically asked for a picture, so I gave him a picture, and just now elektra and jc are getting upset about it.

Weird.

 

[elektra]

2005 – a massive coral bleaching event

The warm water temperatures caused large-scale coral bleaching as a stress response to the excessive temperatures.

Bleached corals were effectively starving and susceptible to other stresses including diseases; many died as a result. zx The first coral bleaching was reported from Brazil in the Southern Hemisphere; but it was minor.

The first bleaching reports in the Caribbean were in June from Colombia in the south and Puerto Rico in the north.

By July, bleaching reports came in from Belize, Mexico and the U.S. Virgin Islands affecting between 25% and 45% of coral colonies.

By August, the bleaching extended to Florida, Puerto Rico, the Cayman Islands, the northern Dutch Antilles (St. Maarten, Saba, St. Eustatius), the French West Indies (Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Barthelemy), Barbados and the north coasts of Jamaica and Cuba.

Bleaching in these countries was generally severe affecting 50% to 95% of coral colonies.

In some countries (e.g. Cayman Islands) it was the worst bleaching ever seen.

By September, bleaching affected the south coast of Jamaica and the Dominican Republic, with 68% of corals affected;

By October, Trinidad and Tobago was reporting 85% bleaching, and the development of a second HotSpot was causing the most severe bleaching for the last 25 years; some places reported 100%, although it was highly variable between sites;

By November, minor bleaching also affected Venezuela, Guatemala and the Dutch islands of Bonaire and Curacao, affecting 14% to 25% of corals.

In many countries (Cuba, Jamaica, Colombia, Florida, USA) there was great variation in bleaching between sites. In Florida, areas exposed to regular large temperature fluctuations, and nutrient and sediment loads were less affected. In the French West Indies, the variation was attributed to different species composition between sites.

ftp://152.19.240.127/pub/marine/brunoj/Bleaching%20papers%20for%20NCEAS%203/Caribbean_Status_Report_2005.pdf

From the 2005 coral bleaching event in the Caribbean.

Only Old Crock could possibly post a link that proves Old Crock wrong and throws the hold Clean Green Renewable energy argument to save the planet on its head!

Now we learn that pollution will save the Coral Reefs by decreasing the temperature of the Earth. All the enviro-whacko nuts policies are raising the temperature of the earth, according to Old Crock and his link!

Thank you Old Crock, you are always the best help.

Clean Coal technologies increase the temperature!

Today, the development of cleaner fuel and energy technologies (e.g. low sulphur content) and changes in African land cover in the future is expected to reduce aerosol levels and hence further increase regional temperatures.

 

[elektra]

So 8 months ago, jc specifically asked for a picture, so I gave him a picture, and just now elektra and jc are getting upset about it.

Weird.

miss science? a picture from wiki is what is surprising, from moot, the queen of science. I mean, you are all about being Scientific? Right?

 

[Old Rocks]

My goodness, ol' Elektra is truly herself today. Blathers on and on, off subject, saying nothing.

1998, 2005, and now this year. we are seeing decreaing intervals between the years of record heat. And the bleaching events are having a very definite effect on the productivity of the reefs.

 

[elektra]

My goodness, ol' Elektra is truly herself today. Blathers on and on, off subject, saying nothing.

1998, 2005, and now this year. we are seeing decreaing intervals between the years of record heat. And the bleaching events are having a very definite effect on the productivity of the reefs.

poor old depends wearing old crock, provides a link for coral dangers that explains clean energy is a problem, you are really, dumb.

 

[Crick]

2005 – a massive coral bleaching event

The warm water temperatures caused large-scale coral bleaching as a stress response to the excessive temperatures.

Bleached corals were effectively starving and susceptible to other stresses including diseases; many died as a result. zx The first coral bleaching was reported from Brazil in the Southern Hemisphere; but it was minor.

The first bleaching reports in the Caribbean were in June from Colombia in the south and Puerto Rico in the north.

By July, bleaching reports came in from Belize, Mexico and the U.S. Virgin Islands affecting between 25% and 45% of coral colonies.

By August, the bleaching extended to Florida, Puerto Rico, the Cayman Islands, the northern Dutch Antilles (St. Maarten, Saba, St. Eustatius), the French West Indies (Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Barthelemy), Barbados and the north coasts of Jamaica and Cuba.

Bleaching in these countries was generally severe affecting 50% to 95% of coral colonies.

In some countries (e.g. Cayman Islands) it was the worst bleaching ever seen.

By September, bleaching affected the south coast of Jamaica and the Dominican Republic, with 68% of corals affected;

By October, Trinidad and Tobago was reporting 85% bleaching, and the development of a second HotSpot was causing the most severe bleaching for the last 25 years; some places reported 100%, although it was highly variable between sites;

By November, minor bleaching also affected Venezuela, Guatemala and the Dutch islands of Bonaire and Curacao, affecting 14% to 25% of corals.

In many countries (Cuba, Jamaica, Colombia, Florida, USA) there was great variation in bleaching between sites. In Florida, areas exposed to regular large temperature fluctuations, and nutrient and sediment loads were less affected. In the French West Indies, the variation was attributed to different species composition between sites.

ftp://152.19.240.127/pub/marine/brunoj/Bleaching%20papers%20for%20NCEAS%203/Caribbean_Status_Report_2005.pdf

From the 2005 coral bleaching event in the Caribbean.

Only Old Crock could possibly post a link that proves Old Crock wrong and throws the hold Clean Green Renewable energy argument to save the planet on its head!

Now we learn that pollution will save the Coral Reefs by decreasing the temperature of the Earth. All the enviro-whacko nuts policies are raising the temperature of the earth, according to Old Crock and his link!

Thank you Old Crock, you are always the best help.

Clean Coal technologies increase the temperature!

Today, the development of cleaner fuel and energy technologies (e.g. low sulphur content) and changes in African land cover in the future is expected to reduce aerosol levels and hence further increase regional temperatures.

Is that really your argument? We shouldn't try to cut down sulfate aerosols because you're worried it will warm the Earth?

 

[jc456]

2005 – a massive coral bleaching event

The warm water temperatures caused large-scale coral bleaching as a stress response to the excessive temperatures.

Bleached corals were effectively starving and susceptible to other stresses including diseases; many died as a result. zx The first coral bleaching was reported from Brazil in the Southern Hemisphere; but it was minor.

The first bleaching reports in the Caribbean were in June from Colombia in the south and Puerto Rico in the north.

By July, bleaching reports came in from Belize, Mexico and the U.S. Virgin Islands affecting between 25% and 45% of coral colonies.

By August, the bleaching extended to Florida, Puerto Rico, the Cayman Islands, the northern Dutch Antilles (St. Maarten, Saba, St. Eustatius), the French West Indies (Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Barthelemy), Barbados and the north coasts of Jamaica and Cuba.

Bleaching in these countries was generally severe affecting 50% to 95% of coral colonies.

In some countries (e.g. Cayman Islands) it was the worst bleaching ever seen.

By September, bleaching affected the south coast of Jamaica and the Dominican Republic, with 68% of corals affected;

By October, Trinidad and Tobago was reporting 85% bleaching, and the development of a second HotSpot was causing the most severe bleaching for the last 25 years; some places reported 100%, although it was highly variable between sites;

By November, minor bleaching also affected Venezuela, Guatemala and the Dutch islands of Bonaire and Curacao, affecting 14% to 25% of corals.

In many countries (Cuba, Jamaica, Colombia, Florida, USA) there was great variation in bleaching between sites. In Florida, areas exposed to regular large temperature fluctuations, and nutrient and sediment loads were less affected. In the French West Indies, the variation was attributed to different species composition between sites.

ftp://152.19.240.127/pub/marine/brunoj/Bleaching%20papers%20for%20NCEAS%203/Caribbean_Status_Report_2005.pdf

From the 2005 coral bleaching event in the Caribbean.

Only Old Crock could possibly post a link that proves Old Crock wrong and throws the hold Clean Green Renewable energy argument to save the planet on its head!

Now we learn that pollution will save the Coral Reefs by decreasing the temperature of the Earth. All the enviro-whacko nuts policies are raising the temperature of the earth, according to Old Crock and his link!

Thank you Old Crock, you are always the best help.

Clean Coal technologies increase the temperature!

Today, the development of cleaner fuel and energy technologies (e.g. low sulphur content) and changes in African land cover in the future is expected to reduce aerosol levels and hence further increase regional temperatures.

Is that really your argument? We shouldn't try to cut down sulfate aerosols because you're worried it will warm the Earth?

I supposed you don't get what aerosols do in the atmosphere. You heard of the extinct dinosaur? How did that happen. hmmmmmm?

 

[CrusaderFrank]

From Wikipedia, bleached coral up front, same species of healthy coral behind.

Global's warming surgical Coral strike

 

[elektra]

Is that really your argument? We shouldn't try to cut down sulfate aerosols because you're worried it will warm the Earth?

It came from Old Crock's link, I can not quote a link from someone you praise regularly?

 

[jc456]

From Wikipedia, bleached coral up front, same species of healthy coral behind.

Global's warming surgical Coral strike

yes, yes, yes, exactly, one out of an entire ocean floor in the area. Frank, I never tire of the stupid in here.

Thanks for the laugh!!!!!!