Climate Change And The Great Barrier Reef - 2273 Words

Name: Chau Luu SUST 1000.01 SP15 Date: April 30th, 2015 Climate Change and the Great Barrier Reef The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef system. It is located in Queensland and stretches 2,300 km along the coast, covering 348,000 km2. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority was established in 1975 in order to sustainably manage the natural heritage for future generations. The Great Barrier Reef is one of the most complex natural ecosystems and was listed on the World Heritage List in 1981. It has a large biodiversity with a great variety of habitats and threatened species including over 400 species of corals, 4,000 species of molluscs, over 1,500 species of fish and a huge diversity of sponges, marine worms, anemones and crustaceans. The Great Barrier Reef is iconic. It has a central place in Australian culture and psyche, and a visit to the reef is reliably rated among the top three must do experiences in international surveys. The Great Barrier Reef has continued to evoke wonder and awe in visitors, from the earliest European explorers negotiating the â€Å"monstrous labyrinth of coral† by sailing ship, to the thousands of tourists who arrive annually to experience one of the natural wonders of the world. There are significant social and economic benefits to Australia from the Great Barrier Reef. The major activities that occur on the Great Barrier Reef are tourism, recreation and commercial fishing. During 2005, 1.9 million people visited the GreatShow MoreRelatedThe Great Barrier Reef ( Gbr )1573 Words   |  7 PagesThe Great Barrier Reef (GBR) is located off the coast Queensland, Australia and stretches over 1800 miles. The reef is home to around 1500 species of tropical fish, and over 400 kinds of coral. This is a species diversity playground for many biologists. There is also a major concern that is upon the reef. Climate change is a main concern throughout the world. When referring to climate change people think of a change in climate patterns that can not be reversed once started. The Great Barrier ReefRead MoreThe World Of The Great Barrier Reef873 Words   |  4 Pagesphenomena found nowhere else in the world. The Great Barrier Reef is one of these magnificent natural wonders. Unfortunately, the fragile ecosystem of the reef is under extreme stress from environmental pressures such as pollution, coastal development, oil and gas exploration, tourist activities and climate change caused by carbon dioxide emissions. Man-made climate changes are the most destructive of these and place the future of the Great Barrier Reef in great danger. If carbon dioxide emissions areRead MoreEnvironmental Issues Of The Great Barrier Reef980 Words   |  4 PagesOne environmental issues posted on the Facebook group on Ecologically Conscious Social is climate change’s effect impacts on the Great Ba rrier Reef where is one of the UNESCO world heritage sites. The Great Barrier Reef is located in Queensland, state of Australia. A concern raised by a group of environmentalists over a threat to the Great Barrier Reef is carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions that emit from the burning of coal. The federation government environment minister, Mr. Greg Hunt approved a 16Read MoreEnvironmental Issues Of Great Barrier Reef914 Words   |  4 PagesOne environmental issues posted on the facebook group on Ecologically Conscious Social is climate change’s effect impacts on Great Barrier Reef where is one of the UNESCO world heritage sites. Great Barrier Reef is located in Queensland, Australia. Environmentalists raised concerns over emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) that poses significant threat to the world heritage site is carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions emit from burning of coal that produced from Adani mining company. The concerns were happenedRead MoreThe Greatest Significance Of The Great Barrier Reef1605 Words   |  7 PagesThe Great Barrier Reef is one of the seven wonders of the world. It extends more than 1,300 miles through the coral sea off northeastern Australia and it is even visible from outer space. It is also home to more than 400 types of coral and 1,500 species such as the tropical fish, birds, dolphins, and reptiles. The reef is not only home to the coral but it is also breeding ground for humpback whales and a habitat for endangered species. The Great Barrier Reef was listed as a protected site by theRead MoreEssay on The Great Barrier Reef1258 Words   |  6 PagesThe Great Barrier Reef is one of the wonders of the natural world. It was declared a World Heritage area in 1981 and added to the National Heritage List in 2007. Unfortunately, the Great Barrier Reef faces many threats. Pollution caused by direct or indirect human activities are major threats to Australian reefs. (source 1). Two million tourists visit the coral reef every year. This is great for the economy; however it can have huge negative impacts on the coral reef. The tourists are carriedRead MoreThe Great Barrier Reef ( Environmental Lens )1401 Words   |  6 PagesGreat Barrier Reef (Environmental Lens) The Great Barrier Reef is a vast organic structure that has existed longer than man. It has always been present underneath the water surface near the coast of Australia, harboring many different types of sea creatures. Over the past few decades, the reef has slowly been dying. Humans have been negatively affecting it for a while now, although they may not have known it at that time. We, as humans, have the duty to correct our mistake and take responsibilityRead MoreThe Effects Of Climate Change On Food Production1718 Words   |  7 Pageseffects of climate change is Queensland (Queensland Climate Change Centre of Excellence, 2010, page 23). Queensland has one of the world’s highest rates of greenhouse gas emissions per capita, which has only continued to increase over the last decade (Queensland Climate Change Centre of Excellence, 2010, page 23). The last decade was the warmest recorded in Queensland’s history, with temperatures being 0.58 degrees Celcius higher than the average for the past four decades (Queensland Climate Change CentreRead MoreThe Great Coral Grief : David Attenborough1665 Words   |  7 PagesThe Great Coral Grief: David Attenborough, a well-known naturalist, introduce us to our modern day â€Å"Darwin,† J.E.N. Veron, a former chief scientist whom is the world’s greatest scientific authorities on corals and coral reefs. Veron who has lived and worked on the Great Barrier Reef for most his life has discovered over 20 percent of the known coral species today. And today, he gives us an insight on why the earth’s reefs face a likely mass extinction within the lifespan of the younger generationRead MoreGlobal Warming And Its Effects On The Great Barrier Reef1443 Words   |  6 Pagestemperature which have risen from 0.74oC during the 19th century to 4oC in modern day society (NOAA, 2016), and how does CO2 contribute to one of the biggest tragedies seen on the Great Barrier Reef today, known as coral bleaching and what can be done to slow the increasing rate of this terrible tragedy? â€Å"Coral reefs are extremely important for biodiversity, providing a home to over 25% of all marine life. They are also vital for people and business. They provide nurseries for many species of commercially