Australia - Reef warning
March 3, 2013, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
CORAL reefs in shallow ocean waters are more vulnerable to sea temperature rises blamed on global warming than previously thought, with areas of the Great Barrier Reef likely to pass critical damage thresholds in roughly 30 years.
Australian researchers looked at shallow corals, found in tropical waters under 70 meters in depth, along Australia's iconic Great Barrier Reef, and found that even tiny increases in overall ocean acidity could lead to extreme changes.
"Honestly, we thought damaging thresholds would not be crossed in coral reefs this century. Now we know that for parts of the day, at least on our reef, it will be passed by 2040," said the study's lead author, Emily Shaw.
Australian researchers looked at shallow corals, found in tropical waters under 70 meters in depth, along Australia's iconic Great Barrier Reef, and found that even tiny increases in overall ocean acidity could lead to extreme changes.
"Honestly, we thought damaging thresholds would not be crossed in coral reefs this century. Now we know that for parts of the day, at least on our reef, it will be passed by 2040," said the study's lead author, Emily Shaw.
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