Disturbing report on the future of reefs

[captexas]

Came across this news story tonight online:

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=570&ncid=753&e=8&u=/nm/20040221/sc_nm/environment_australia_reef_dc

[captexas]

I was just suprised to see this article after reading another article this morning on global warming/the changing environment. The story this morning was about a special study ordered by the Pentagon to look at global warming and its effects. The study was finished several months ago, but after review, the Pentagon decided to keep the results a secret. Of course our wonderful government is not the best at keeping secrets and the report leaked out. Officials believe that the ensuing effects of global warming and the change in the worlds environment poses more danger to the United States than any possible act of terrorism. This from a government and president that don't acknowledge there is a problem to begin with! Anyways, the study believes that the result of food and water shortages will cause serious armed conflicts, possibly nuclear war.

I've never believed things are really as bad as they say, but after seeing all this today I'm starting to wonder. The year 2100 is really not that far away, especially when it comes to the life of our planet. For me though, that means my grandchildren (if I have any!) will suffer the consequences. Just something to make everyone think. :-)

[alexwolf]

its a big ploy to get divers to go see the reef. That means economy boost, airfare boost ;)

[brewercm]

This part makes the whole thing sound fishy to me.

"The study by Queensland University's Center for Marine Studies, commissioned by the Worldwide Fund for Nature"

[Jeff Post]

If temperature changes of 1 degree will kill them then all of the corals in my tank must be dead. This sounds like fuzzy science or an article that left out the important information to latch onto the global warming phrase.

[mathias]

all I know is that it said that theme parks will be the only place for people to see reefs so I need to start pitching that idea to six flags and get hired as the head honcho and then hire all you guys to run it :)

[dan]

i've seen my tank at night drop to 76 and at peak lighting jump to 82 and everthing looks great. so whats up with that??????????

[captexas]

Cliff - who else would you expect to fund that kind of research project? Don't think the oil and gas industry or the auto industry would want anyone to know things like that!

I know my tank varies in temperature, but our tanks are not large ecosystems. The oceans/reef temperatures stay fairly constant. I don't think things will be as bas as they say, but I would expect certain things to not be able to adapt as easily as others. And when one thing dies off in an ecosystem, it slowly affects all the others. If you read the article, it is not just the temperature change, but all the dumping of trash and chemicals into the oceans. Smog and exhaust produces "dirty rain" which runs off into rivers, streams, and the ocean.

I'm not a nature nazi or anything like that, but I do believe we are killing our planet and in turn civilization. It's just a question of how long it will be before something happens and slaps us in the face.

[alexwolf]

BUST!!!!!



just kidding :D

[captexas]

Well, first of all that is in Fiji, not Australia where the main story focuses. Second that is still only a small time frame of a few years.

Anyways, again, not saying the report is 100% true, but you cannot deny that we are trashing our environment and in time major problems will occur. I actually think that the over fishing of our oceans and the dumping of all kinds of chemicals and wastes in the water will kill off our oceans inhabitants long before increasing temperatures do.

[brewercm]

Just meant to say that any study will be scewed by the money paying for the study, it could have just as easily gone the other way depending on from where the money flows.


Yeah, I'm a cynic.