90% Of Indian Ocean Shallow Water Coral Reefs Die In One Year

[hatrack]

Temperature rise destroyed Indian Ocean surface coral
By Charles Arthur
18 September 2003 - The Independent

"A rise in sea temperatures killed off 90 per cent of the coral reefs near the surface of the Indian Ocean in only one year, while the remaining 10 per cent could die in the next 20 years, devastating fish stocks and tourism vital to coastal econmies, research published today says.

EDIT

The dire warning, by Dr. Charles Sheppard of the University of Warwick, follows a gradual rise in maximum sea temperatures, which in 1998 devastated the shallow corals lying from 10 to 40 metres (33 ft to 130 ft) below the surface. Since then some corals had begun to recover - but the risk continues.

EDIT

'Most corals don't mature until five years old and, five years since the 1998 event, most sites have recovered only marginally,' he said.

EDIT

'The warming trend is only a fraction of a degree each year, which is swamped by the annual change,' Dr. Sheppard said. 'But south of the Equator the probability of the temperature rising enough to kill all the corals means they could be wiped out as soon as 2020,' Scientists think between 20 and 30 per cent of the world's coral reefs have been wiped out and because the Indian Ocean is home to 16 per cent of all reefs, their survival is all the more important."

EDIT

The Independent

[walkon]

1. This is not good.

Several weeks ago I read about carribbean reefs dying at a rapid pace, as well.

[hatrack]

3. Yeah, but didja hear about Ben and J-Lo?

Now THERE'S a tragedy!!

Fulminating, enraged sarcasm off.

[LeftCoast]

2. More evidence that the Earth is a self-correcting system

After the last two major mass-extinctions, the Earth recovered. It will again, though we may not be around to enjoy it...