[Coral-List] Re: different aspect of climate change for Ms. Forbes

Charles Birkeland charlesb at hawaii.edu
Thu Jun 10 10:46:35 EDT 2004


Dear Ms. Forbes,

A different aspect of climate change than water temperature and 
sealevel rise explains the distribution of reefs in Hawaii. A recent 
paper by John Rooney, Charles Fletcher, Eric Grossman, Mary Engels and 
Michael Field in Pacific Science (April 2004, Vol 58, pages 305 to 
324) entitled “El Nino influence on Holocene reef accretion in Hawaii” 
documents how net reef accretion occurred on the windward coasts of 
Hawaii until about 5000 years ago, then terminated long before the 
sealevel rise stopped about 3000 years ago. They attribute this 
termination of reef growth on windward coasts of Hawaii to increased 
frequency of ENSO to present-day levels about 5000 years ago. One 
usually expects the more vigorous spur and groove reef growth where 
there is wave action on windward coasts and less dynamic growth in 
sheltered areas, but in the case of Hawaii, the wave action on 
windward coasts is just too much. It is very clear today that windward 
coasts in Hawaii are for surfers, while coral-reef scientists (except 
Rooney et al) can stay in the lee, thank heavens.  Rooney et al. 
summarize evidence from around the world for less ENSO influence prior 
to 5000 years ago.

> Hi there, 
> I am doing some research for the BBC into Climate change. We are 
> filmingin different areas around the world to analyse different 
> examples of
> climate change, and we'll be holding studio debates and other 
> discussionon the causes of the examples we find. I am writing to 
> ask if your list
> members may be able to recommend any sites of dramatic and visual 
> coraldegradation or change which may be attributable to climate 
> change. I am
> keen to invite discourse from those involved in coral research on any
> aspect of this project.
> 
> Kate Forbes (kate.Forbes at bbc.co.uk)
> 
> 
> 
> (NB: BBC News is part of the BBC, a public broadcasting 
> corporation) 
> 
> http://www.bbc.co.uk/ - World Wide Wonderland





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