2010, another year of extreme coral bleaching

[captain morgan]

Umm, where is it then?

Uuummmm, in a therad called "2010, another year of extreme coral bleaching"

The statement that the corals are bleaching is based on an assumption of AGW... That's the focus here, isn't it? The corals are another alarmist observation that is expected to prove AGW... Put this entire thread into one of the many existing threads.

 

[Avro]

Uuummmm, in a therad called "2010, another year of extreme coral bleaching"

The statement that the corals are bleaching is based on an assumption of AGW... That's the focus here, isn't it? The corals are another alarmist observation that is expected to prove AGW... Put this entire thread into one of the many existing threads.

What's a therad?

 

[Tonington]

The statement that the corals are bleaching is based on an assumption of AGW.

No... are you serious? The statement that corals are bleaching is based on an observation that corals lose the symbiotic zooxanthellae when temperatures exceed a thermal threshold.

The number of reef provinces experiencing bleaching has increased steadily...as one would expect as the ocean stores more heat. There is a very simple association here, it's not difficult, and it's not an assumption. It's easily observed...

 

[Avro]

No... are you serious? The statement that corals are bleaching is based on an observation that corals lose the symbiotic zooxanthellae when temperatures exceed a thermal threshold.

The number of reef provinces experiencing bleaching has increased steadily...as one would expect as the ocean stores more heat. There is a very simple association here, it's not difficult, and it's not an assumption. It's easily observed...

Nope, have to call you on this one Tonn.

The coral reef is in on the conspiracy.

Nice try though.:roll:

 

[Tonington]

The coral reef is in on the conspiracy.

Hmm, I don't recall seeing the reefs listed in the stolen emails, but then I didn't really spend my time reading other peoples private emails while complaining about ethical concerns relating to the work of those whose personal emails I was reading...

 

[petros]

No... are you serious? The statement that corals are bleaching is based on an observation that corals lose the symbiotic zooxanthellae when temperatures exceed a thermal threshold.

The number of reef provinces experiencing bleaching has increased steadily...as one would expect as the ocean stores more heat. There is a very simple association here, it's not difficult, and it's not an assumption. It's easily observed...

Sponge Bob is dieing from too much heat?
Is this the first time in earths history corals have died? How did they manage to survive for hundreds of millions of years in the past with wildly varying ocean and atmospheric chemistry and temperatures?

 

[Tonington]

Sponge Bob is dieing from too much heat?

No...sponge bob is a sponge. The corals don't die because of the heat, they die of starvation because there are no photosynthesizing zooxanthellae to sustain them.

Is this the first time in earths history corals have died?

Of course not.

How did they manage to survive for hundreds of millions of years in the past with wildly varying ocean and atmospheric chemistry and temperatures?

The rate of change right now exceeds the majority of natural ocean chemistry and temperature changes in the past, with few exceptions. Corals will migrate, and they can adapt. But they can adapt over long periods of time, not on decadal time scales. It took 30 million years for atmospheric CO2 to drop from 900 ppmv to present levels, and we will push it back to that level on our present trajectory in just 90 years. These kinds of changes we're imposing will appear in the geologic record as those few exceptions that nature provided, and just as when nature provided the change, there will be massive loss of biodiversity.

 

[#juan]

By Molly Webster
May 29, 2008

Cities & Transportation Science & Technology Food, Health & Home Nature & Wildlife

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Killing off an ecosystem because of the coconut-scented oils I have no choice but to slather on my body? When I read the report, I was nothing short of perplexed.
An Italian university study published in the April issue of Environmental Health Perspectives links sunscreen to coral bleaching. Coral is an aquatic, stone-like structure that has cracks and crevices inhabited by colorful symbiotic organisms called zooxanthanellae. Bleaching, induced by changing ocean temperatures, pollution, and bacterial pathogens, is the process in which hard coral loses its alluring tenants, leaving behind bare, whitish rock. While science has indicated sunscreens can bioaccumulate in the food chain, and that they may breakdown to form toxic by-products, never had there been a connection between my pina colada scented beach balm and coral bleaching.
The researchers tested, out in the wilds of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans as well as at the Red Sea, the effects of different sunscreen brands, protective factors, and concentrations on coral algae. They found that the ray blocking products caused the cells of algal organisms to rupture, resulting in death. Through a few steps of math, the scientists estimate that about 25 percent of the sunscreen we apply to ourselves is washed off during a 20 minute dunk, and that since around 10 percent of UV filters are used in tropical areas that contain coral, up to 6,000 tons of the stuff is released annually in reef areas.

Suntan lotion causes problems for choral.....

 

[Tonington]

For Praxius, who asked what can be done, building reefs. Good video here:
BBC Life

 

[petros]

The rate of change right now exceeds the majority of natural ocean chemistry and temperature changes in the past, with few exceptions. Corals will migrate, and they can adapt. But they can adapt over long periods of time, not on decadal time scales. It took 30 million years for atmospheric CO2 to drop from 900 ppmv to present levels, and we will push it back to that level on our present trajectory in just 90 years. These kinds of changes we're imposing will appear in the geologic record as those few exceptions that nature provided, and just as when nature provided the change, there will be massive loss of biodiversity.

5 major mass extinctions, all with wild swings in both ocean and atmospheric chemistry and all were catastrophic with huge changes in just a matter of a few hours. Trilobites didn't survive the Ordo-Sil event although all previous catastrophes created more and more diversification for the trilobite, yet corals which have had very little change right from day one have cruised right on through?

 

[Tonington]

5 major mass extinctions, all with wild swings in both ocean and atmospheric chemistry and all were catastrophic with huge changes in just a matter of a few hours.

Yes, that's exactly what I said:
"The rate of change right now exceeds the majority of natural ocean chemistry and temperature changes in the past, with few exceptions."

Trilobites didn't survive the Ordo-Sil event although all previous catastrophes created more and more diversification for the trilobite, yet corals which have had very little change right from day one have cruised right on through?

Little change for corals? Cruised right on through? What is your basis for those statements?

 

[petros]

No...sponge bob is a sponge. The corals don't die because of the heat, they die of starvation because there are no photosynthesizing zooxanthellae to sustain them.

Of course not.

The rate of change right now exceeds the majority of natural ocean chemistry and temperature changes in the past, with few exceptions. Corals will migrate, and they can adapt. But they can adapt over long periods of time, not on decadal time scales. It took 30 million years for atmospheric CO2 to drop from 900 ppmv to present levels, and we will push it back to that level on our present trajectory in just 90 years. These kinds of changes we're imposing will appear in the geologic record as those few exceptions that nature provided, and just as when nature provided the change, there will be massive loss of biodiversity.

Yes, that's exactly what I said:
"The rate of change right now exceeds the majority of natural ocean chemistry and temperature changes in the past, with few exceptions."



Little change for corals? Cruised right on through? What is your basis for those statements?

Are there many other families that go back right from the Cambrian until today? Sponges, crinoids, starfish, corals are all originals which proves without doubt.they've have survived everything the universe has thrown at them. Hardly a canary in a coal mine.

 

[Johnnny]

rugose and tabulate corals didnt make it , the tabulate coral didnt survive the permian mass extinction... And there is a subtle difference tabulate corals and modern day corals are made of different calcium carbonates... Tabulates were made of calcite and Modern day corals are made of aragonite..

In my opinion if the coral of today dies off, it will be replaced slowly of course and life will go on. Unless of coarse everything in our oceans remain dead and theres nothing alive in it but algae .. In that case stromatolites will take over , there rightful place as rulers of the sea

 

[Cliffy]

And we'll be eating Soylent Blue and Red just before we are fed Soylent green.

 

[Tonington]

In my opinion if the coral of today dies off, it will be replaced slowly of course and life will go on.

In a few millenia...in the meantime the oceans lose massive amounts of biomass.

 

[petros]

In a few millenia...in the meantime the oceans lose massive amounts of biomass.

So in the mean time we kill the last of the Peruvian sardines to feed caged up salmon? Good idea.

 

[Tonington]

So in the mean time we kill the last of the Peruvian sardines to feed caged up salmon? Good idea.

Stay on topic. The bad idea we're talking about is killing corals. Start another thread if you want to talk aquaculture.