A Discussion On Rising Sea Levels Effect On Coastal Communities And Coral Reefs
A Discussion on the Impact of Rising Sea Levels Effects on the Marine Ecosystem and Coastal Cities
By Jaiden Haddock
SCIENCE OF THE FUTURE,
Year 10, Term 3
2009, Jaiden Haddock
Introduction
The Great Barrier Reef is the largest reef in the world, it’s 2300 kilometres long, contains nearly 3000 reefs and over 900 islands and cays, all of which are at danger from sea rise.
Australia’s reefs are in serious danger from climate change. Rising sea levels along with rising temperatures are having a serious effect on our reefs. Although many reefs around the world still have yet to feel the effects of global warming, most reefs sit close to the surface and in some places the sea level is raising faster than the coral can grow and will eventually leave coral reefs to far under for the zooxanthellae, that supplies coral with 90% of its nutrients, to photosynthesize. If rising sea levels continue, coral will be unable to properly photosynthesize due to lack of sunlight.
Not only is Australia’s marine organism’s in trouble, but Australians living on the coastline can expect to find water creeping at their doorsteps in the near future. At current, two thirds of Australians live on the coastline, along with billions of dollars worth of property all are currently at risk from sea rise.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, in 2007, conducted an assessment on global warming; they predicted that the average sea level would increase between 28 and 42 centimeters by the end of the 21st century, having disastrous effects.
Studies like this and others are of monumental importance if we are to understand sea level rise and protect ourselves as well as underwater flora and fauna. With sea levels expected to rise dramatically in the next several decades, entire countries and reefs will disappear.
One of the more dangerous risks is the potential collapse of the West Antarctic ice sheet, if the ice sheet was to melt into the ocean, the...