[Coral-List] IPCC and coral reefs

[Steve Mussman]

   Jean-Pierre,
   Thanks for providing the links to the latest IPCC report and summaries
   regarding coral reefs and marine ecosystems. As to whether it helps or not
   is another question. As you are well aware, the issue of climate change and
   even the IPCC itself have become so politicized that one has to wonder if
   the science even matters. It seems that the lines have been drawn and it is
   now  as  much about ideological predisposition as it is about science.
   Polarization occurs instantly at just the mention of the IPCC or the term
   climate change. Coral listers haven't been polled or asked to take sides,
   but we can all read between the lines. Reactions have become predictable
   even before the next study, report or summary can be released. Scientific
   integrity  loses out in a world where facts can be manufactured to fit
   individual beliefs. More and more we are becoming entrenched in diametrical
   realities even while recognizing that our destinies are linked on this one
   little planet.    Steve
   ----Original Message-----
   >From: Jean-Pierre Gattuso
   >Sent: May 8, 2014 4:06 AM
   >To: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
   >Subject: [Coral-List] IPCC and coral reefs
   >
   >Listers,
   >
   >IPCC has been recently mentioned on the list. Coral reefs are covered in
   >chapters 5, 6 and 30 of the Contribution of WGII to the IPCC report.
   >These chapters can be downloaded here:
   >http://ipcc-wg2.gov/AR5/report/final-drafts/
   >
   >There is also a cross-chapter box covering coral reefs:
   >
   >Gattuso J.-P., Hoegh-Guldberg O. & Pörtner H.-O., in press. Coral
   >Reefs. In: Field C. et al. (Eds.), Climate Change 2014: Impacts,
   >Adaptation and Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the
   >Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
   >Change. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
   >
   >There is also a cross-chapter box on ocean acidification in which coral
   >reefs are mentioned:
   >
   >Gattuso J.-P., Brewer P., Hoegh-Guldberg O., Kleypas J. A., Pörtner
   >H.-O. & Schmidt D., 2014. Ocean acidification. In: Field C.. & et al.
   >(Eds.), Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability.
   >Contribution of Working Group II to the Fifth Assessment Report of the
   >Intergovernmental Panel on Climate ChangeCambridge: Cambridge University
   >Press.
   >
   >Both boxes are included in the three chapters above and can be also
   >downloaded here:
   >https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3098160/ipcc_coral_reef_box.pdf
   >https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3098160/ipcc_ocean_acidification_box.pd
   f
   >
   >Finally, coral reefs are mentioned in the Technical Summary and twice in
   >the Summary for Policy Makers (same link as the one above for the
   >individual chapters):
   >
   >- Unique and threatened systems: Some unique and threatened systems,
   >including ecosystems and cultures, are already at risk from climate
   >change (high confidence). The number of such systems at risk of severe
   >consequences is higher with additional warming of around 1°C. Many
   >species and systems with limited adaptive capacity are subject to very
   >high risks with additional warming of 2°C, particularly Arctic-sea-ice
   >and coral-reef systems.
   >
   >- For medium- to high-emission scenarios (RCP4.5, 6.0, and 8.5), ocean
   >acidification poses substantial risks to marine ecosystems, especially
   >polar ecosystems and coral reefs, associated with impacts on the
   >physiology, behavior, and population dynamics of individual species from
   >phytoplankton to animals (medium to high confidence). Highly calcified
   >mollusks, echinoderms, and reef-building corals are more sensitive than
   >crustaceans (high confidence) and fishes (low confidence), with
   >potentially detrimental consequences for fisheries and livelihoods. See
   >Figure SPM.6B. Ocean acidification acts together with other global
   >changes (e.g., warming, decreasing oxygen levels) and with local changes
   >(e.g., pollution, eutrophication) (high confidence). Simultaneous
   >drivers, such as warming and ocean acidification, can lead to
   >interactive, complex, and amplified impacts for species and ecosystems.
   >
   >I hope this helps.
   >
   >---
   >Jean-Pierre Gattuso
   >INSU-CNRS-UPMC
   >Laboratoire d'Océanographie de Villefranche
   >06230 Villefranche-sur-mer
   >France
   >T: 33 4 93 76 38 59 | http://www.obs-vlfr.fr/~gattuso
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