Greenhouse role in reef stress unproven
In the late 1980s, as coral reefs throughout the Caribbean and elsewhere fell victim to a phenomenon known as bleaching, a few scientists stated that greenhouse warming is upon us and that the exquisitely sensitive corals, reacting to elevated water temperatures, are serving as biological sentinels. This stirred up so much concern that Congress assigned the National Science Foundation (NSF) to investigate the connection between coral bleaching and global warming. Late last month investigators at an NSF-sponsored meeting rendered their verdict. Following the Miami meeting, which brought together, for the first time, climatologists, oceanographers, and meteorologists with marine biologists, ecologists, and other reef experts, the participants issued a statement saying essentially that, yes, higher temperatures seem to be at least partly at fault but, no, greenhouse warming cannot be blamed.
- OSTI ID:
- 5823440
- Journal Information:
- Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States), Vol. 253:5017; ISSN 0036-8075
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
CORALS
SENSITIVITY
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
ANIMALS
CLIMATIC CHANGE
CNIDARIA
COELENTERATA
INVERTEBRATES
540320* - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
560200 - Thermal Effects
290301 - Energy Planning & Policy- Environment
Health
& Safety- Regional & Global Environmental Aspects- (1992-)