[Coral-List] Objective Science?

[GlennPatton]

FYI, A peer-reviewed study that I have not seen referenced on this list.   

http://www.sciencemag.org/content/335/6068/593.abstract 

Growth of Western Australian Corals in the Anthropocene
Timothy F. Cooper, Rebecca A. O’Leary, Janice M. Lough

Abstract
Anthropogenic increases of atmospheric carbon dioxide lead to warmer sea
surface temperatures and altered ocean chemistry. Experimental evidence
suggests that coral calcification decreases as aragonite saturation drops
but increases as temperatures rise toward thresholds optimal for coral
growth. In situ studies have documented alarming recent declines in
calcification rates on several tropical coral reef ecosystems. We show there
is no widespread pattern of consistent decline in calcification rates of
massive Porites during the 20th century on reefs spanning an 11° latitudinal
range in the southeast Indian Ocean off Western Australia. Increasing
calcification rates on the high-latitude reefs contrast with the downward
trajectory reported for corals on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and provide
additional evidence that recent changes in coral calcification are responses
to temperature rather than ocean acidification. 

Other info about the study.

http://www.sciencemag.org/content/suppl/2012/02/01/335.6068.593.DC1/Cooper.S
OM.pdf 

http://data.aims.gov.au/metadataviewer/faces/view.xhtml?uuid=4f39c641-8450-4
ea0-b2b6-4f3d582645f8 

Other references to this study.
http://www.australianclimatemadness.com/2012/02/warmer-waters-good-for-coral
-growth/ 

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=corals-more-threatened-by-t
emperature-than-acidifying-ocean 

Best regards,

Glenn Patton
www.glennpatton.com