FED: Global warming threat to Great Barrier Reef

AAP General News (Australia)
04-02-1999
FED: Global warming threat to Great Barrier Reef

CANBERRA, April 2 AAP - One of Australia's best-loved environmental wonders is at greater
risk from global warming than previously thought, according to new research.

An international team of scientists has found that increasing global levels of atmospheric
carbon dioxide can affect sections of the Great Barrier Reef thought safe from damage.

Australian National University geology researcher Bradley Opdyke, who was part of the
research team, said chemical reactions were endangering even underwater reef formations.

"Coral reefs are essentially made up of two building blocks: calcium and carbonate," Dr
Opdyke said in a statement.

"As carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere go up, it mixes with the surface ocean and
creates a more acidic seawater."

That, Dr Opdyke said, decreased the level of carbonate in the water, making it hard for
coral-forming organisms to create their skeletons.

Similar findings were also recorded in experiments conducted in France and the United
States.

Dr Opdyke said the problem was similar to the human disease osteoporosis, which attacks the
skeletons of some elderly people.

"The structures of the coral are weakened and can crumble more easily when faced with
natural erosion or structural attack," he said.

That could hasten the damage caused by storms, predatory coral-destroying Crown of Thorns
starfish and increased levels of tourism.

Dr Opdyke stressed the Great Barrier Reef - a World Heritage Area central to Australian
tourism promotions both at home and overseas - was not in danger of imminent collapse.

But he warned rising carbon dioxide levels would pose a long-term danger, not just to the
reef, but ultimately to Australia's tourism earnings.

"By 2050 the world will witness atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations not experienced
on this planet for about 35 million years," Dr Opdyke said.

"Clearly, losing the tourist income associated with the Great Barrier Reef would be a blow
to the Australian economy.

"But will it be enough to make people pay more attention to the dangers of polluting our
atmosphere with more carbon."

AAP rft/sc/pa

KEYWORD: REEF

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