Thinking About Coral

The Carnegie Institution at Stanford University has predicted that the increased acidity of seawater generated by human carbon dioxide-releasing activities is likely to result in the loss of 90% of coral reefs (http://www.ciw.edu/news/coral_reefs_unlikely_survive_acid_oceans). The reduced pH makes it impossible for the coral organisms to generate and maintain their impressive exoskeletons. Many other animals are dependent on the habitats created in the reef systems. Destruction of coral would occur even if the targets of reducing carbon dioxide emissions to levels thought appropriate to limit climate change (as currently advocated by the UK) were achieved. Losses of the reefs would have some quite devastating consequences on the viability of oceanic islands (in terms of food and protection from wave action).