A new study claims that rising temperatures and acid levels in the ocean are causing coral reefs harm, and that coral reefs could be dissolved in only 100 years. Apparently, rising levels of carbon dioxide are what is causing ocean waters to become acidic. Dr Jacob Silverman from the Carnegie Institution, has done studies on this, and has concluded that if carbon dioxide levels reach 2 times as much as pre-industrial levels, coral reefs will stop being able to grow, and that they will start breaking up due to acid damage. Apparently this happens because the acid in the water prevents coral from being able to pull minerals out of the water to build their skeletons.
Using a global map and calculations, the people participating in this study have found that the point where oral reefs start disintegrating will probably be reached by the end of this century. Coral bleaching events have become more common.
Is there any way to keep water acidity from causing any further problems to coral?
Can anything be done to reverse the harmful effects of water acidity on coral that has already been damaged?
1 Response to “An imminent threat to coral reefs”
Ocean acidification is a very bad thing and effecting a vary large part of the ocean. The only way to stop it is to stop creating excess carbon dioxide. To do this we need to stop driving cars and shut down all big factories. But this is pretty much impossible.
Another thing that is going to be seriously affected by ocean acidification is salmon. If the ocean keeps getting more acidic, zooplankton phytoplankton’s shells will basically melt. If this happens they will not be as protected and die much easier. Because they’re the main of salmon, the salmon will start to struggle for food and start to die off as well.