Tuesday, 16 March 2010
I wonder how many of us are aware that 2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity ? But it is only in the last couple of years that scientists have begun to realize the impact that global warming and the burning of fossil fuels is having on the biodiversity of our marine life.
The video here gives us a little window of information on the rise of acidification in earth's oceans and the profound affect its having on the food chain around coral reefs.
"for those hesitant to accept the science of climate change, one thing that may be easier to digest is the problem of ocean acidification. It doesn’t take rocket science or more than elementary biology to understand that all life needs balance to survive. Drastically tip the ecological scale too much and too fast in any direction, and you’re asking for trouble. This is why rising levels of acidification—largely due to the ocean’s being forced to absorb more carbon emissions—have many fishermen and scientists fretting:"
"the ocean is becoming more acidic because of carbon-dioxide emissions that are damaging coral reefs, decimating populations of tiny animals at the base of the food chain and eating away at the shells of clams, mussels, and oysters.” Source
If we aren't prepared to accept this and begin to act on cutting greenhouse emissions now, then this startling and deeply disturbing news puts at risk the future of our children's well being !