CO2 EFFECT ON CORAL

A group of scientists in Australia - conducting a world first experiment on a living coral reef - are pumping carbon dioxide into the ocean to see how the ecosystem copes.

Studies have shown that carbon emissions can cause reefs to decline by affecting the ability of coral to grow.

Situated at the lower end of the Great Barrier Reef, Heron Island is surrounded by pristine waters and a spectacular array of coral and fish species endemic to this region. That?s the reason why a group of scientists from the University of Queensland has chosen this location to conduct a world first.

According to David Kline of the University of Queensland the aim of this project is to get a better picture of how reefs of the future respond to these changed climatic conditions.

More than a third of carbon dioxide emissions are absorbed into the ocean. But as more CO2 is soaked up, the ocean is becoming more acidic.

Studies already indicate that's posing problems for the marine ecosystems like the Great Barrier Reef.