Changing Planet: Fading Corals
The delicate balance of life and environment which sustains coral reefs globally is under threat. The dramatic increase in atmospheric CO2 in the past few decades has produced an increase in ocean temperature and acidity. Coral diseases have also been on the increase, due to changes in their environment as well as pollution.
Click on the video at the left to watch the NBC Learn video - Changing Planet: Fading Corals.
Lesson plan: Changing Planet: Fading Corals
Shop Windows to the Universe Science Store!
is a fun group game appropriate for the classroom. Players follow nitrogen atoms through living and nonliving parts of the nitrogen cycle. For grades 5-9.
You might also be interested in:
How did life evolve on Earth? The answer to this question can help us understand our past and prepare for our future. Although evolution provides credible and reliable answers, polls show that many people turn away from science, seeking other explanations with which they are more comfortable....more
A coral reef is like an underwater city. Corals and algae construct the framework that rises off the tropical ocean floor and attract many diverse inhabitants. Schools of multicolored fish glide above...more
New research has found that bacteria are responsible for killing 85% of the corals in reefs near the Florida Keys. The bacteria is a fecal coliform bacteria called Serratia marcescens and it is commonly...more
Increasing amounts of carbon dioxide are released into the atmosphere from burning of fossil fuels. Some of that carbon dioxide makes its way into the world’s oceans. This changes the chemistry of...more
Here's a safe and easy way to make lightning. You will need a cotton or wool blanket. This experiment works best on a dry, cool night. Turn out all the lights and let your eyes adjust to the darkness....more
It takes 3 seconds for sound to travel 1 kilometer (5 seconds to travel 1 mile). The next time a thunderstorm comes your way, look out your bedroom window and watch for lightning. When you see a lightning...more
Why do the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron and the Hurricane Research Division use different airplanes? Actually, they only use two main types. The top two airplanes in the graphic, the WC-130H Hercules...more
Rain, wind, tornadoes, and storm surge related to hurricanes cause change to natural environments, damage to the human-built environment, and even loss of life. When a hurricane is over the ocean and far...more