Study Shows Coral Bed Growth Slowed by Air Pollution

It appears that air pollution's effects even creatures found in the ocean, according to a new study. Lester Kwiatkowski, the lead author of the study and P.H.D student of mathematics at the University of Exeter, explains his finding from a study as far reaching as the United Kingdom, Australia, and Panama.

"They are believed to be vulnerable to climate change and ocean acidification, but ours is the first study to show a clear link between coral growth and the concentration of particulate pollution in the atmosphere..."

Dr. Paul Halloran explains how both manmade and natural  pollution particles, such as those caused by burning coal or volcano eruptions,cause coral growth to slow, despite the coral being underwater.

"Particulate pollution or 'aerosols' reflect incoming sunlight and make clouds brighter. This can reduce the light available for coral photosynthesis, as well as the temperature of surrounding waters...Together these factors are shown to slow down coral growth," he adds.

Coral beds rely on certain types of photosynthetic algae for nutrients and energy that feed the tiny organisms that make up coral. In turn, coral beds are hotspots for marine life, and it is estimated that 25 percent of marine life depends on coral beds for food and/or shelter. If coral bed growth continues to slow down, it could cause serious environmental damage to the ocean's ecosystems. By preventing as much sunlight from reaching the coral, it is causing less and less coral from being able to grow.

The study used data acquired from coral skeletons, as well as statistical modeling and climate model simulations. While volcanic eruptions were mainly to blame for slowed coral growth in the early Twentieth Century, human pollution overtook volcanic emissions as the leading cause of slowed coral growth in the later Twentieth Century. More must be done to make sure that coral beds are able to remain healthy, or serious permanent damage could befall the earth's oceans.