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dipsydoodle

(42,239 posts)
Mon Apr 8, 2013, 05:22 AM Apr 2013

Particles from fossil fuels 'affect the growth of corals'

Researchers have found the strongest evidence yet that aerosols from burning fossil fuels are affecting coral growth.

They say that these sooty particles can cool sea surface temperatures and limit the size of reefs.

But they also believe this chilling effect could prevent the corals from bleaching in warmer waters.

The research is published in the journal Nature Geoscience.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-22044229

Caribbean coral growth influenced by anthropogenic aerosol emissions http://www.nature.com/ngeo/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/ngeo1780.html

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Particles from fossil fuels 'affect the growth of corals' (Original Post) dipsydoodle Apr 2013 OP
Also: Atmospheric Aerosols Can Harm Coral Reef Growth Rates Judi Lynn Apr 2013 #1

Judi Lynn

(160,217 posts)
1. Also: Atmospheric Aerosols Can Harm Coral Reef Growth Rates
Mon Apr 8, 2013, 10:53 AM
Apr 2013

Atmospheric Aerosols Can Harm Coral Reef Growth Rates
April 8, 2013

Fine particles in the air resulting from burning coal or volcanic eruptions can negatively affect coral growth, a team of climate scientists and coral ecologists from the UK, Australia and Panama has discovered.

The study, which appears in this week’s edition of the journal Nature Geoscience, found that coral reefs respond to changes in the concentration of atmospheric pollution. Those particulates can shade the corals from sunlight and cause the water surrounding them to cool, thus leading to reduced growth rates, the researchers said.

“Coral reefs are the most diverse of all ocean ecosystems with up to 25% of ocean species depending on them for food and shelter,” lead author Lester Kwiatkowski, a PhD student from the University of Exeter, said in a statement. “They are believed to be vulnerable to climate change and ocean acidification, but ours is the first study to show a clear link between coral growth and the concentration of particulate pollution in the atmosphere.”

“Particulate pollution or ‘aerosols’ reflect incoming sunlight and make clouds brighter,” added Dr. Paul Halloran, an ocean biogeochemistry expert at the Met Office Hadley Centre. “This can reduce the light available for coral photosynthesis, as well as the temperature of surrounding waters. Together these factors are shown to slow down coral growth.”

More:
http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1112817712/air-pollution-affects-coral-reef-growth-040813/

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