CO2 levels may already be too high for coral reefs to survive
Unless changes are made soon, our children may be the last generation who are able to see coral reefs and the wonderful wildlife that can be found living on them. Due to the combined effect of ocean acidification and ocean warming, coral reef survival is balancing on a knife edge, warns a meeting of leading scientists.
CO2 levels will be too high for coral reefs to survive
Organised by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), the International Programme on the State of the Ocean (IPSO) and the Royal Society, the meeting identified the level of atmospheric CO2 predicted to result in the demise of coral reefs.
At anticipated rates of emission increase, it is expected that 450 ppm CO2 will be reached before 2050. At that point, corals may be on a path to extinction within a matter of decades. The safe level of CO2 that we should strive for is 320 ppm: 360 is now known to be the level at which reefs cease to be viable in the long term.
Mass coral bleaching events already happening
At today's CO2 level of 387 ppm, repeated cycles of coral death from mass bleaching have already sent most coral reefs into serious decline. By 2050, the remaining coral reefs could fall victim to ocean acidification. Such a catastrophe would not be confined to reefs, but could start of a domino-like sequence of the fall of other marine ecosystems.
Scientific evidence shows that we have long passed the point at which the marine environment offers reefs a guaranteed future. The kitchen is on fire and it's spreading round the house. If we act quickly and decisively we may be able to put it out before the damage becomes irreversible. That is where corals are now.
Now, there is every reason to believe that the oceans may in fact be the most vulnerable sector of our planet to climate change - with dire consequences for us all.Source WildlifeExtra
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
