Global Warming Effects on Coral Reef Ecosystems
How Climate Change and Water Pollution Affect Ocean Life
Nov 11, 2009
Global warming, overfishing, and water pollution threats to ocean life, especially coral reef ecosystems, are explained in a U.S. NOAA National Ocean Service website article. A team plan by NOAA and the U.S. Nature Conservancy to protect coral reef ecosystems in the Caribbean, Florida, Hawaii, and the Pacific Islands is announced in a Nature Conservancy press release.
The importance of protecting coral reefs was published in an (author unknown) article on the National Ocean Service (NOS) website titled, “NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program: Threats.” The article was last reviewed by NOS on November 5, 2009. The National Ocean Service is a branch of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Effects of Global Warming & Climate Change on Coral Reefs
The NOAA National Ocean Service coral reef “Threats” article states, “Climate change impacts have been identified as one of the greatest global threats to coral reef ecosystems.” As oceans become warmer, due to global warming, coral reef bleaching and “infectious disease outbreaks” are likely to increase, according to the article. The other threats listed are:
- Coral Reef Disease.
- Hurricanes and tropical storms.
- Ocean tourism and water recreation.
- Damage to ocean vessels discharging pollutants and debris.
- Aquatic invasive species damaging coral reefs.
Ocean Pollution From Air Pollution CO2 Emissions
“Carbon dioxide (CO2) (from carbon emissions) absorbed into the ocean from the atmosphere...begins to reduce calcification rates in reef-building, “ states the “Threats” article. NOS claims that CO2 absorbed into the ocean will affect organisms associated with coral reefs. The carbon dioxide air pollution, when absorbed by ocean waters, causes “ocean acidification” which adversely affects the health of coral reef systems.
Water Pollution From Fishing & Land Pollution
The NOS article lists the pollution sources, causing threats to ocean life, from runoff land pollution and overfishing:
- Agriculture water runoff.
- Deforestation.
- Drainage of polluted storm water.
- Development of coastal areas.
- Construction of roads.
- Oil spills.
- Chemical spills.
- Unsustainable fishing and related debris.
NOAA has teamed with the Nature Conservancy to protect coral reef ecosystems in the Caribbean, Florida, Hawaii, and the Pacific Islands, according to a Nature Conservancy (author unknown) press release, dated October 30, 2009, titled, “NOAA, The Nature Conservancy Address Coral Reef Threats: Four-year agreement supports projects totaling $7.2 million.”
The “Washington, DC” Nature Conservancy press release is published on the Nature Conservancy (an organization working worldwide to protect ecologically important lands and waters) website. The funds will be used to “...address the top three threats facing coral reef ecosystems: climate change, overfishing, and land-based sources of pollution.” 36 projects will fall into these categories:
- Management “place-based” strategies.
- Development of “marine protected area networks.”
- Determining the effectiveness of coral reef management.
- Development of a long-term finance plan.
- Increasing coral reef “building capacity” worldwide.
The National Ocean Service reports that the three primary threats to coral reefs and other ocean life are global warming due to climate change, fishing impacts, and pollution. NOS states that climate change is the greatest threat for coral reef survival. The Nature Conservancy has teamed with NOAA and allocated $7.2 million to help protect against the threats to coral reefs in certain ocean areas.
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