Climate Change Temperature and Coral Reefs Climate Change

Climate Change: Temperature and Coral Reefs

Climate Change Weather vs. Climate Weather: day to day changes in temperature, rainfall, cloudiness, moisture Climate: long term changes in weather patterns on our planet Effects of climate change: Warmer sea surface temperatures (today’s activity) Sea level rise Drought (water shortage), flooding Ocean acidification

Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System

Divers work on sensors at the Kilo Nalu Reef Observatory which monitor water quality and temperature

HIOOS Wave buoys Coastalwave Wave monitor height, Buoy direction, and period around Measurements the Pacific Ocean.

CO 2 Buoy off the south shore of Oahu, Hawaii Temperature Carbon Dioxide Salinity Oxygen Chlorophyll Turbidity Photo courtesy of R. David Beales, UH Creative Services

CO 2 and Climate Change Greenhouse effect – makes life on Earth possible CO 2 comes from natural and man made sources: Natural: animal respiration, volcanoes Man made: burning fossil fuels (cars, planes, electricity), deforestation (cutting/burning trees) Too much CO 2 causes too much warming

Video

Plants – PHOTOSYNTHESIS (take up carbon dioxide and give off oxygen) Animals – RESPIRATION (take up oxygen and give off carbon dioxide)

What is coral? Plant? Animal?

Coral: a happy duo • Zooxanthelle (algae) provide food & oxygen • Coral provide CO 2 & protection • Calcium carbonate skeleton

Coral Bleaching

Mass Coral Bleaching Temperature!