Solar radiation has been suspected to play a role in coral bleaching. The consequent exposure to high or low temperatures, increased solar radiation, desiccation, and sea water dilution by heavy rains could all play a role in zooxanthellae loss, but could also very well lead to coral death. -Fresh water dilution Rapid dilution of reef waters from storm-generated precipitation and runoff has been demonstrated to cause coral reef bleaching. Generally, such bleaching events are rare and confined to small, near-shore areas. Nearly all of the world’s major coral reef regions (Caribbean/western Atlantic, eastern Pacific, central and western Pacific, Indian Ocean, Arabian Gulf, Red Sea) experienced some degree fo coral bleaching and mortality during the 1980s.
Climate Change and Sea Level Rise Like the frog in the pan of heating water that does not notice the temperature rising until it is too late, climate change and sea level rise do occur and are now becoming a serious issue. The recent finding data shows the seriousness of the problem and the urgency to reach a solution. Sea level rise has enormous impacts on nature and human society. First, data about sea level rise shows that it is a serious issue, which cannot be ignored. Since sea level measurements were first recorded in 1870, global averages have risen almost eight inches.
The large population centres near coasts has led to silting of reefs, pollution by nutrients that lead to algal growth that smothers the coral, and overfishing that has led to increase in number of predators that eat corals. Warming of the ocean causes corals to sicken and die. Even a rise of one degree in the average water
Elevated pH can in turn ‘blind' organisms that rely on perception of dissolved chemical cues for their survival by impairing their chemosensory abilities (Figure 3) (Turner & Chislock 2010). When these dense algal blooms eventually die, microbial decomposition severely depletes dissolved oxygen, creating a hypoxic or anoxic ‘dead zone' lacking sufficient oxygen to support most organisms. Dead zones are found in many freshwater lakes including the Laurentian Great Lakes (e.g., central basin of Lake Erie; Arend et al. 2011) during the summer. Furthermore, such hypoxic events are particularly common in marine coastal environments surrounding large, nutrient-rich rivers (e.g., Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico; Susquehanna River and the Chesapeake Bay) and have been shown to affect more than 245,000 square kilometers in over 400 near-shore systems (Diaz & Rosenberg 2008).
Besides global warming there is another problem with this beautiful structure and that is the result of several local natural and human factors such as over fishing. Silt from deforested lands and pollution from crowded coastlines choke them, and overuse and destroy coral reefs. There are many other factors which if they are not stopped it will destroy all coral reefs. Corals are animals, not plants; sunlight is the key to their survival. They need it to power the millions of microscopic algae, called zooxanthellae, that live in their tissues.
The cause of the flooding is attributed to high tide, low atmospheric pressure, and wind patterns. And when these three things combine at the right levels, it can result in 90% of Venice going under 140cm underwater. As recently as November 12, 2012, there has been an article published by The Australian reporting that 70% of Venice is currently underwater. Major tourist attractions such as the Piazza San Marco, or St. Mark’s Square, are under at least a foot of water. This causes a lot of trouble for the tourists who are visiting, and also discourages other tourists to follow through with their travel plans and make their way to the flooded city.
It is also a possibility that there will be a “permanent” El Niño in the future. The article is appropriate for the class to read at this time because it pertains to what we have discussed in class. The articles mentions effects El Niño and La Niña have effected people in the past and we have discussed how El Niño may effect people. We talked about the trade winds associated with El Niño and the change in water temperature. Warm water in the pacific is usually pushed to the west but during El Niño the warm water stays near the Northwestern coasts of South America which can cause damages in fishing and changes in weather pattern across the world.
Coral reefs are the second largest ecosystem next to tropical rainforests on Earth. The deterioration of coral reefs is a huge warning sign for everyone internationally to implement more policies on coral reef conservation. The problem that is happening internationally is the deterioration of coral reefs. Coral reefs are one of the most endangered ecosystems worldwide. For the first time in history they will be included on the World Conservation Union’s red list of threatened species (Oliver).
The word I used for this image is, ”destructive.” A typhoon is a tropical storm in the region of the Indian or western Pacific oceans. Typhoon seasons begins in the summer and goes through December. The typhoon belt is right on the islands of Micronesia, so when this storm hits, it causes severe damage. In comparison to the USA, southern states have to worry about hurricanes, which are a storm with a violent wind, in particular a tropical cyclone in the Caribbean. These tropical storms are very similar, but happen in different locations.
Since we have the attention of everyone, now is the best time to take action against global warming. Due to the increasing temperatures every year our public health and our agriculture/food supply is at high risk for new and worse diseases due to global warming; we need to change our climate control policies to protect ourselves. Gases are being trapped inside of earth’s atmosphere like a soda can, and are gradually increasing Earth’s temperatures that ice will start melting and there will be flooding due to rising sea levels; plants and animals will start becoming endangered (as cited in Cooper, 2001). We have already seen coastal flooding in parts of Central America and Bermuda’s forests are now endangered due to flooding (as cited in Clemmitt, 2006). Global warming has been an issue since factories were introduced to this world; gases and toxins are being highly exposed into our atmosphere causing a tremendous reaction to the balance of nature.