Space Industry and Business News  
WATER WORLD
25-year coral survey shows the Caribbean is environmentally-stressed
by Brooks Hays
Washington (UPI) Dec 29, 2017


The Caribbean's coral is environmentally stressed, according to the conclusions of a recently-completed 25-year survey.

For more than two decades, researchers observed environmental changes and ecological health indicators as part of the Caribbean Coastal Marine Productivity Program. They published the results of the program -- the largest, longest of its kind -- earlier this month.

Though scientists didn't measure significant increases in water temperature across the region, they did find decreases in water quality at 42 percent of the surveyed sites.

"We're seeing important changes in local conditions, like decreases in visibility associated with declining water quality and the increasing presence of people, but we're not picking up global-scale changes, like climate warming," Iliana Chollett, post-doctoral fellow at the Smithsonian Marine Conservation Program in Fort Pierce, Fla., said in a news release.

Most ocean temperature monitoring efforts look at surface temperature. During the 25-year survey, scientists measured underwater temps.

"Satellites only measure temperature at the surface," Chollett said. "Underwater temperatures are much more variable, and it may take decades of data to reveal a significant change, so we're not sure if this means that we just don't have enough data to detect it yet."

In addition to collecting temperature readings, researchers also regularly measured salinity and visibility at 29 test sites among mangroves, seagrass beds and coral reefs. Researchers chose sites that were relatively secluded, free from direct interference from cities and human populations.

The survey included coastal sites in Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bonaire, Colombia, Costa Rica, Florida, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, Saba and Venezuela.

Though the survey results reveal worrying trends, researchers suggest the ecological changes they discovered can be mitigated and reversed.

"One positive implication of this report is people are capable of dealing with local change by regulating pollution and runoff," said Rachel Collin, director of the Bocas del Toro Research Station at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. "If people get their act together very soon, there is still hope of reversing some of these changes."

WATER WORLD
Maps drawn in early 1900s help track Pacific Northwest kelp forests
Chicago IL (SPX) Dec 28, 2017
In the early 1900s, the U.S. Department of Agriculture recognized a problem. The United States relied heavily on fertilizer to grow crops and support its burgeoning economy, yet a crucial ingredient for fertilizer - potash, a mixture of potassium and salts - was mined almost exclusively in Germany. German mines supplied nearly the entire world's supply of potash, and at the time the U.S. used ab ... read more

Related Links
Water News - Science, Technology and Politics


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

WATER WORLD
Nature's smallest rainbows, created by peacock spiders, may inspire new optical technology

New lensless camera creates detailed 3-D images without scanning

Accelerated analysis of the stability of complex alloys

Russian scientists suggested a new technology for creating magnet micro-structures

WATER WORLD
Military defense market faces new challenges to acquiring SatCom platforms

Harris contracted by Army for radios for security force assistance brigades

Joint Hellas-Sat-4 and SaudiGeoSat-1 satellite ready for environmental tests

Government outsourcing disrupts space as SatComm services commercialised

WATER WORLD
WATER WORLD
'Quantum radio' may aid communications and mapping indoors, underground and underwater

Raytheon to provide GPS-guided artillery shells

DARPA Subterranean Challenge Aims to Revolutionize Underground Capabilities

New satellite tracking of in-flight aircraft to improve safety

WATER WORLD
Math for midges that pull 10g

JPATS Logistics Services to support T-6 aircraft in new contract

Bell announces first flight for V-280 tiltrotor aircraft

NATO orders Elbit infrared counter-measures system

WATER WORLD
Tech firms rush out patches for 'pervasive' computer flaw

Viewing atomic structures of dopant atoms in 3-D relating to electrical activity in a semiconductor

Tiny structures help prevent short circuits in plasma devices

New study visualizes motion of water molecules, promises new wave of electronic devices

WATER WORLD
NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission locates elusive electron act

NASA-led Study Solves a Methane Puzzle

DLR and Japan sign collaboration agreement on climate research

Prototype space sensors take test ride on NASA ER-2

WATER WORLD
25 tonnes of toxic waste found dumped near Belgrade

Beijing records best air quality in five years in 2017

Russian environmental campaigner hospitalised after beating

Turning e-waste into art at Ghana's toxic dump









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.