Is global warming affecting the Great Barrier Reef? Explain you answer?

Question

i am doing assignment at school on Great Barrier Reef and i have problem with this question. Help! help! help!

Answer 1

global warming affects ecosystems on land and water.warming temperatures in water severely damages aquatic biology simply due to physiological factors - organisms may not be able to adapt to the increase in temperature, even if it is a couple of degrees, also global warming dramatically changes evaporation/precipitation patterns which can also affect the salinity of the ocean...there are too many factors to consider with global warming...hope these articles help: http://www.greenclippings.co.za/gc_main/article.php?story=20061227175806791
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=ShowDetailView&TermToSearch=16200400&ordinalpos=2&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

Answer 2

Of course it is. Think about it. The Reef has been supporting awesome forms of ocean life for years and years without any interference from man's stupidity.
One reason these lifeforms survive at the GBR is that the water temperature is consistently the same almost all year round. Some species reproduce at certain temperatures and if that temp. fluctuates too much, then their offspring can't survive, therefore rendering the species extinct or nearly extinct.
Other species on the Reef who depend on these other types for their food, suffer if their population is depleted.
Got it so far?
So when greenhouse gases thicken the atmosphere, thereby trapping warm air inside the earth's stratosphere, then the temperature in the Great Barrier Reef rises, making it more and more difficult for certain species to survive because the very environment that they've thrived in for so many years has become screwed up by the rising temperatures. Therefore, the other species that relied on that specific animal also suffers.
Also, the rising temperatures make way for increased growth of certain plants and algaes, which in turn, robs the water of life sustaining nutrients and foremost, oxygen! Everything living in the reef needs oxygen to survive, so as the plant life increases, the available oxygen for the animal life becomes more and more depleted, which in turn, kills entire species of everything from coral, to fish, to planktons.
So the answer to your question is a resounding "YES"!
And even scarier is that the same thing that is happening to the shrinking Barrier Reef, is happening to similar sites all over the world's oceans. In fact, it's quite similar to what is happening to mankind itself!
Fossil fuel is being burned at a rate beyond what you can imagine. Man's answer to this? Put thousands more gas guzzlers on the road every year and invent more things that use fossil fuels to work, then jack the prices up and up and up, because let's face it, not only is mankind too lazy to change, it's also too greedy and too stupid to change.

Answer 3

yes because the great barrier reef needs to be at a certain temp. it cant be to cold or too hot or else they will die and turn white. if the global temp. increases the oceans temp. will too. also the pH balance will be messed up in the oceans.
hope it helps :]

Answer 4

Yes, for it is causing destruction off the reef. If the water gets too hot, the coral and the fish life cannot survive

Answer 5

If you read the articles written about the effect of global warming on the Great Barrier Reef
You will soon see that according to all reports it's within the realm of possibility that it will be dead within the next 50 years if it isn't stopped NOW.! That responsibility belongs to every man, woman and child in every country and on every continent.
WE MUST ALL TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO CORRECT IT AND TO ASK OURSELVES,
WHAT CAN I DO?
I HATE TO THINK THAT MY YOUNGEST GRANDDAUGHTER'S CHILDREN WILL BE IN WORSE SHAPE THAN WE ARE NOW.
In 50 years I'll only be a memory but my great grandchildren will still be here, MAYBE!


***********************************************
The mass coral bleaching event that occurred in the summer of 2002 alone affected between 60% and 95% of reefs in the Marine Park, with some locations suffering severe damage with up to 90% of corals killed.

The Great Barrier Marine Park now has dugong protection areas, netting has been heavily restricted or banned completely in some areas, trawl fishing boats are required to carry turtle excluder devices, and a new zoning plan has been put into place. Where once only 4.6 % of the area was completely protected from fishing, from July 1 last year that moved to 33%.
http://www.abc.net.au/science/features/futureofthereef/

(((Dugongs are more closely related to elephants than to other marine mammals such as whales and dolphins, but their closest living aquatic relatives are the manatees.)))
http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/corp_site/key_issues/conservation/natural_values/dugongs

2006 Global Temperatures/ CHARTS FOR VARIOUS HEMISPHERES
http://www.solcomhouse.com/globalwarming.htm
Reef robot monitors global warming
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/04/01/1080544624795.html
Australia's famous Great Barrier Reef could be dead within decades because of the effects of global warming, according to a leaked report.
http://www.feed24.com/go/40674595
Sydney - Australia's Great Barrier Reef - the world's largest chain of living coral - could be devastated by global warming in the next 50 years unless drastic action was taken, a report said on Monday.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/fr/962660/posts
Global warming causing Great Barrier Reef fish to starve
Date: Wed 27 December 2006
Category: Marine
http://www.greenclippings.co.za/gc_main/article.php?story=20061227175806791
*************************************************
........POSSIBLE HELPING SOLUTION.......
..................SHADE CLOTH..................
Federal Tourism Minister Fran Bailey says using "shade cloth" over parts of the Great Barrier Reef off Queensland could protect it from the harmful effects of global warming.
http://digg.com/world_news/Australia_considering_shade_cloth_to_protect_Great_Barrier_Reef
Ms Bailey says the shade cloth idea came from a scientist who found that coral in natural shade was healthier than that in direct sunlight.
...............ABC NEWS....................
Minister suggests 'shade cloth' to protect Great Barrier Reef
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200611/s1779627.htm
.........WHAT IS SHADE CLOTH?...............
Since I personally use this over my garden pond to protect my Koi from sunburn I think it is a wonderful idea.
Infact If every continent used it in some manner to protect the earth from the harmful UV's I would imagine the world temps could be lowered.
Shade Options
These photos will give you a feel for the shades available. The most popular amount of shade is 50%.to 80%
Uses:

Shade UV-sensitive plants
Shade for livestock and poultry
Shade for outdoor work areas
Greenhouse coverings
Hail protection
Windbreaks
Bird netting
Temporary fencing
Truck tarping
Erosion control

Benefits:

Reduces moisture loss from evaporation
Keeps birds at bay
Cuts UV penetration
Cools plants, animals and people underneath
Better ventilation than woven materials
Resists chemical sprays
Light weight is easy on support structure
Water permeable for rainfall and irrigation

http://www.gemplers.com/groups/shade-cloth.aspx