Explain how increased atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and warmer coastal waters resulting from global climate change may affect coral reefs

What will be an ideal response?


If water temperatures increase, many species of coral will eject their zooxanthellae, subsequently bleaching and dying. Also, rising carbon dioxide levels will increase the amounts of carbon dioxide that will dissolve in ocean waters. This results in the acidification of ocean waters, and increased acidity increases the conversion of limestone, which comprises the corals' skeletal material, into soluble bicarbonate, thus increasing the mortality of corals. On the other hand, corals may be able to colonize waters that were previously too cold for them and also move into low-elevation areas that may become flooded by expanding oceans.

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

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The United States wastes almost none of its energy.

Answer the following statement true (T) or false (F)

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The atmospheric layer containing most of the mass of the earth's air is the

A. thermosphere. B. mesosphere. C. stratosphere. D. troposphere. E. tropopause.

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Governments in Latin America demonstrate a bias in favor of ________ areas by providing more services and investments to these specific areas.

A. urban B. rural C. coastal D. export-producing

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

Neglecting friction, the speed and direction of the horizontal wind are determined by:

A) only gravity. B) gravity and humidity. C) temperature and humidity. D) viscosity and turbulence. E) pressure gradient and Coriolis.

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences