Scientists Issue Strongest Coral Warning - Forbes

[zonkers]

Scientists have issued their strongest warning so far this year that unusually warm Caribbean Sea temperatures threaten coral reefs that suffered widespread damage last year in record-setting heat.

Waters have reached 85.5 degrees around the U.S. Virgin Islands and 85.1 degrees around Puerto Rico - temperatures at which coral can be damaged if waters do not cool after a few weeks - said Al Strong, a scientist with the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Coral Reef Watch, in a telephone interview Monday.

Coral, which provide a sheltered habitat for fish, lobsters and other animals, die from prolonged bleaching, when the water temperature gets so high that it kills the algae that populate and build the reefs.

http://www.forbes.com/technology/ebusiness/feeds/ap/2006/09/25/ap3043968.html

[Mnemosyne]

1. k and r n/t

[Barrett808]

2. k & r n/t

[joefree1]

3. Is it rapture already?

When are the fundies leaving so we can get back to healing our long suffering mother earth.

[Ilsa]

4. This was in FORBES? I thought all they cared about was money!

I bet the editor published a quip about preferring industry over some silly, scratchy coral. :sarcasm:

[hatrack]

5. Ah, but it's the TOURISM INDUSTRY at risk here - muchos dolares, no?

You see, when it's high-dollar condos and package tourism, that's important.

Biodiversity and hurricane protection provided free of charge by nature? Fuck that - don't make MY portfolio grow.

:puke: