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Coral reef calcification and climate change: The effect of ocean warming
Author(s) -
McNeil Ben I.,
Matear Richard J.,
Barnes David J.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2004gl021541
Subject(s) - reef , ocean acidification , coral reef , oceanography , coral , effects of global warming on oceans , calcification , environmental science , climate change , seawater , sea surface temperature , global warming , geology , medicine , pathology
Coral reefs are constructed of calcium carbonate (CaCO 3 ). Deposition of CaCO 3 (calcification) by corals and other reef organisms is controlled by the saturation state of CaCO 3 in seawater (Ω) and sea surface temperature (SST). Previous studies have neglected the effects of ocean warming in predicting future coral reef calcification rates. In this study we take into account both these effects by combining empirical relationships between coral calcification rate and Ω and SST with output from a climate model to predict changes in coral reef calcification rates. Our analysis suggests that annual average coral reef calcification rate will increase with future ocean warming and eventually exceed pre‐industrial rates by about 35% by 2100. Our results suggest that present coral reef calcification rates are equivalent to levels in the late 19th century and does not support previous suggestions of large and potentially catastrophic decreases in the future.