naturalfeature:great barrier reef

Part of the Great Barrier Reef exposed to more CO₂; results are grim | Ars Technica
▻https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/03/part-of-the-great-barrier-reef-exposed-to-more-co%e2%82%82-and-results-

https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/3_2017-08-10284B_cover-suggestion_dye-across-reef-1024x768-760x380.jpg

Experiments have been carried out in controlled laboratory settings on isolated species but not in the open ocean where the effects of CO2 interact with variations in light, temperature, water flow rate, and the availability of nutrients. Only in the open ocean can all of these factors be assessed in unison on the entire coral community. Our ability to deal with any future damage to coral reefs depends upon this knowledge.

A group of marine biologists took advantage of the structure of a reef at One Tree Island in the southern Great Barrier Reef to set up an experiment in an otherwise natural environment.

#climat #co2 #récif_corallien

Climate change is a disaster foretold, just like the first world war | Jeff Sparrow | Opinion | The Guardian
▻https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/mar/12/climate-change-is-a-disaster-foretold-just-like-the-first-world-war

The extraordinary – almost absurd – contrast between what we should be doing and what’s actually taking place fosters low-level climate denialism. Coral experts might publicise, again and again and again, the dire state of the Great Barrier Reef but the ongoing political #inaction inevitably blunts their message.

#climat #désastre #politique

Barrier Reef coral genetically altered in hope of surviving climate change
▻http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/feb/03/barrier-reef-coral-genetically-altered-in-hope-of-surviving-climate-cha

The Australian government’s marine research agency is looking to genetically alter species of coral to help them cope with rising sea temperatures, as new modelling showed the coverage of living corals on the Great Barrier Reef could decline to less than 10% if warming continued.

[...]

While corals can adapt to different temperatures, it usually takes thousands of years before they can evolve within gradually changing climates.

Dr Madeleine van Oppen, a senior principal research scientist at Aims, told Guardian Australia: “We can create genetic diversity and new genetic variations, and then let natural selection pick and do the rest.”

“We are trying to accelerate the process of what happens in nature, to help them to cope better. This is theoretically possible.

#climat #corail #océan #Australie

The Great Barrier Reef: an obituary | Environment | theguardian.com
▻http://www.theguardian.com/environment/ng-interactive/2014/mar/great-barrier-reef-obituary

Large-scale coal mining backed by French bank #Société_générale threatens the Great Barrier Reef
▻http://www.multinationales.org/Large-scale-coal-mining-backed-by

Northeastern #Australia's enormous coal deposits attract interest from all directions. Nine huge mining projects are underway in Queensland – along with train tracks and freight terminals, CO2 emissions by the millions, and a vital threat to the coastline’s unique world heritage site: the Great Barrier Reef. A French bank, Société Générale is in charge of advising investors for the most advanced of these mining project, Alpha Coal. This article was originally published in French. Translation : Guy (...)

#News

/ Australia, Société générale, #Energy, #Extractive_Industries, #Extractive_Industries, #Finance_and_Banking, #environmental_impact, #corporate_social_responsibility, #greenhouse_gas, #biodiversity, #climate_change, extractive (...)

#extractive_industries
►http://www.prix-pinocchio.org
▻http://rse.societegenerale.com/accueil/environnement-achats/politique-environnementale/bilan-de-la-strategie-carbone-2008-2012
►http://www.greenpeace.org/australia/Global/australia/images/2012/Climate/Galillee_Report.pdf