Thai Scientists - "We Have Observed Death Of Hard Corals, Suspect It's Result Of Acidification"

[hatrack]

"The current level of carbon dioxide equivalent accumulation in the atmosphere is 430 parts per million . If we allow business as usual at the current rate of CO2 emission over the next eight to ten years, we will exceed 500 ppm of CO2 by 2050 and coral reef ecosystems will be extensively and irreversibly damaged, while carbonate reefs will largely disappear," World Bank marine biologist Marea Hatziolos said.

In an attempt to understand ocean acidification and its impact on the marine ecology in Thailand, a team of scientists from Phuket is set to study the problem in preparation to address its effects on the ocean ecology and the human food chain.

"We have observed the death of hard corals for some time and suspect this might be the result of the increase in ocean acidification, which causes the calcium-component coral reefs to disintegrate," Somkiat Khorwongkiat, of Phuket's Coastal and Marine Resources Research and Development Institute, said.

"Our research, funded by the European Union, will be the first of its kind to study the direct impact of climate change on the coral reefs in Thailand," he said.

EDIT

http://nationmultimedia.com/2008/05/13/national/national_30072895.php