Corals are moving north!!

jgvergo · Jul 23, 2019

I am personally looking forward to their arrival in New York!

| EarthSky

While coral populations are declining in tropical waters, scientists have just detected an increase in subtropical areas, which could be good news for corals.

earthsky.org

sde1500 · Jul 23, 2019

I was just talking about this with a friend. It makes sense as oceans warm, corals broadcast spawn. So any spawn that gets swept North to colder waters dies. But as water warms up, northern areas are now perfect temps for coral spawn to settle and grow. Obviously won't replace current reefs for a seriously long time, but they'll be there in time.

jgvergo · Jul 23, 2019

sde1500 said:
I was just talking about this with a friend. It makes sense as oceans warm, corals broadcast spawn. So any spawn that gets swept North to colder waters dies. But as water warms up, northern areas are now perfect temps for coral spawn to settle and grow. Obviously won't replace current reefs for a seriously long time, but they'll be there in time.

Exactly @sde1500! There will be a band of good climate for corals...it will just shift north if we experience warming.

Ardeus · Jul 23, 2019

I am not sure this will work out long term because as the planet warms, we get bigger oscillations in temperature.

jgvergo · Jul 23, 2019

Ardeus said:
I am not sure this will work out long term because as the planet warms, we get bigger oscillations in temperature.

Temperature oscillations of ocean water are damped enormously because of the high specific heat and the total mass. Besides, I saw Jurassic Park and "Life finds a way"

Corey Baker · Jul 23, 2019

not water temp related but... Let the water levels rise! i will have beach front property in no time! haha GO NATURE!

Ardeus · Jul 24, 2019

jgvergo said:
Temperature oscillations of ocean water are damped enormously because of the high specific heat and the total mass. Besides, I saw Jurassic Park and "Life finds a way"

They are but look at the ocean temperature anomalies around the arctic. People in the North of Siberia are actualky going to the beach now. In this forum we are all aware how important is stability for reef systems.