Coral Reefs and Climate Change

Coralline algae (RCA) help hold the reef structure together and contribute significantly to coral reef carbonate production.

Barrier reefs are typically more developed and older than fringing reefs, which can be quite young and vary in growth due to carbonate deposition and bioerosion.

Major threats include rising temperatures, marine heatwaves, acidification, pollution, and extreme weather events.

<p>Coral bleaching is the phenomenon where corals lose their symbiotic algae in response to environmental stress, affecting their energy supply.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Reef bommies, which are overgrowths of solitary or massive corals, increase local biodiversity and can serve as crucial habitats within barrier reefs.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Sea ice is frozen seawater and reacts strongly to global warming, affecting the climate system through feedback mechanisms like albedo.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Calving refers to the process where marine-terminating glaciers or ice shelves lose mass by breaking off large pieces to form icebergs.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Buttressing is when ice shelves hold back glaciers that feed into them, preventing faster movement and mass loss.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>While melting is currently occurring faster than ice restoration, it is not impossible to reverse, especially at higher elevations with lower temperatures.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Gulf Stream is expected to weaken but will not cease, which could significantly affect regional weather patterns and sea levels.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Key contributors to Earth's ice loss during this period include Arctic sea ice, Antarctic ice shelves, and mountain glaciers, totaling about 28 trillion tons.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Ice loss is more pronounced in the Northern Hemisphere due to faster warming, increased industrial activity, and ice fragmentation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The rate of ice loss has increased by 57% since 1990, highlighting a worrying trend that reflects the global impact of climate change.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Total dissolved inorganic carbon represents the total carbon available in water for processes like photosynthesis.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Total alkalinity influences aquatic environments by indicating how well the system can resist pH changes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Carbonate saturation indicates how much carbonate ion is available in water compared to what is needed for minerals like calcium carbonate.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Low carbonate saturation can threaten marine life that depends on calcium carbonate, as it can hinder their ability to form shells and skeletons.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Humid tropical regions contribute significantly to global vapor flows, which are estimated at 67,000 km³/yr.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Atmospheric melting is primarily caused by warmer air leading to surface ice melt, while oceanic melting is driven by warm ocean currents eroding ice from beneath.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Sea level has changed by 35 mm from ice melt since the 1990s.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Most feedback loops result in positive feedbacks, exacerbating ice melt and climate change effects.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Atmospheric melting dominates in the Arctic, while oceanic melting is more significant in Antarctica.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The current contribution from ice sheets to sea level rise is approximately 1.1 mm per year.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Current and predicted ice loss is occurring much faster, up to hundreds of times the natural rate observed over geologic time.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Short-term melt events can have significant impacts, and understanding them is crucial for predicting long-term changes in ice sheets.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Enhanced monitoring and modeling are necessary to accurately predict how the cryosphere will respond to continued warming and to validate models with in situ observations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It has led to significant decreases in river flow seasonality, with reduced snow fraction and earlier snow melt.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>There is a net increase in permanent water across all continental regions, except Oceania, which shows a slight loss.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It can lead to earlier water intake due to increased vegetation growth before traditional water availability periods.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Water scarcity can be linked to human actions like river diversion, damming, and unregulated water withdrawal.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Widespread irrigation practices have significantly increased vapor flows in South Asia.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>'Global tree restoration is our most effective climate change solution to date.'</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Only 3 trillion trees remain compared to an estimated 6 trillion historically.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Drainage and drying, fires, land use, and climate warming.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It caused peat fires that made Indonesia the third biggest emitter of greenhouse gases.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Blocking drainage channels and promoting paludification.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Peatlands store 600 gigatonnes of carbon.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Climate warming promotes decomposition in peatlands.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Drained peatlands account for a loss of about 0.3 gigatonnes of carbon per year.</p> Signup and view all the answers

A type of reef that grows outwards from the shore, often creating a lagoon between the reef and the mainland. They are relatively young and are formed by a combination of coral growth and erosion.

A small, isolated mound of coral that rises up from the seabed. They are often rich in biodiversity and can be an important starting point for the development of larger reefs.

A group of algae that plays a vital role in holding coral reefs together. They contribute significantly to reef structure and provide protection against wave action.

The process by which corals lose their symbiotic algae, often due to stress from environmental factors like high temperatures. This can lead to coral starvation and death if they are unable to recover.

A range of factors that threaten the health and survival of coral reefs. These include rising temperatures, ocean acidification, pollution, and overfishing.

Anthropogenic climate change has a noticeable effect on global river flow seasonality, especially in northern high latitudes, where the timing of snowmelt and river flow is changing.

Increased water bodies are observed across continents, mainly due to reservoir construction and climate change, except Oceania, which experiences a net loss of water.

A notable decrease in river flow seasonality is observed in northern high latitudes, caused by early snowmelt due to increasing temperatures, resulting in lower high flows and higher low flows.

Early snowmelt in northern high latitudes leads to an earlier start of the growing season, as plants receive water earlier, impacting the overall ecosystem.

The Middle East and Central Asia experience a significant net loss of permanent water, exceeding 70% of the global total, attributed to drought and human actions such as river diversion and damming.

The total amount of dissolved inorganic carbon in water, including dissolved carbon dioxide, bicarbonate, and carbonate. It represents the carbon available for processes like photosynthesis by aquatic plants.

A measure of how resistant a water body is to changes in pH. It indicates the availability of carbonate for shell-building organisms.

The ratio of available carbonate ions in water compared to what's needed for the formation or dissolution of calcium carbonate (CaCO3).

A measure of the amount of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) that can be dissolved in a given water sample. It's an important indicator of ocean acidification and its impact on marine life that rely on calcium carbonate for shell and skeleton formation.

The process of removing forests, which decreases the amount of water vapor released into the atmosphere.

Frozen seawater, distinct from glaciers; a crucial component of Earth's climate system with high sensitivity to warming.

The process of icebergs breaking off from glaciers or ice shelves, primarily occurring at marine-terminating glaciers.

The stabilizing effect of ice shelves on the flow of glaciers that feed into them. The ice shelf acts like a barrier, holding back the glacier's movement.

The process of glaciers and ice sheets losing mass due to melting, calving, or sublimation.

A significant contributor to ice loss, especially in the Northern Hemisphere, where warmer temperatures and fragmentation contribute to faster melting.

The total loss of ice mass across various reservoirs (ice sheets, glaciers, sea ice, etc.) due to climate change.

A warm ocean current that plays a significant role in regulating climate by transferring heat from the tropics towards the poles.

The gradual slowdown of the Gulf Stream due to climate change, potentially impacting regional weather patterns and sea levels.

The melting of glacial ice due to warmer air temperatures, primarily impacting surface ice like glaciers and the Greenland Ice Sheet.

The erosion of ice from below by warm ocean currents, particularly affecting ice shelves in Antarctica.

The ability of a surface to reflect sunlight. Lower albedo means more sunlight is absorbed, leading to greater warming.

The rapid increase in mountain glacier melting, with a threefold increase between the 1970s and 2010.

The process by which the melting of glaciers and ice sheets contributes to a rise in sea level.

The study of the dynamics of glaciers and ice sheets, including how they change and how these changes affect coastal communities and ecosystems.

Short-term events that can have a significant impact on the long-term behavior of ice sheets.

The complex interactions between ice sheets and the climate system. These can be positive, leading to further warming, or negative, slowing down warming.

Partially decomposed plant material formed in waterlogged conditions, storing large amounts of carbon.

A type of wetland where peat accumulates, forming a layer of partially decayed plant matter. These ecosystems play a crucial role in carbon storage.

The process of removing water from peatlands, often for agriculture or forestry, leading to oxygenation and decomposition of the peat, releasing large amounts of carbon dioxide.

The release of carbon dioxide from drained peatlands due to decomposition, which can be exacerbated by fires, making these areas a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions.

A type of forest growing on peatlands, known for their deep layers of peat and high carbon storage capacity. They are often threatened by deforestation and drainage.

The process of restoring degraded peatlands by blocking drainage channels and promoting waterlogging, potentially reversing the release of carbon dioxide.

The loss of carbon from degraded peatlands through decomposition and fires, contributing significantly to global greenhouse gas emissions.

The use of natural sinks to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, such as trees, forests, and peatlands, as a strategy to address climate change.