The World Of The Great Barrier Reef - 873 Words

Australia is home to one of the most diverse and beautiful landscapes in the world. From uninhabitable arid deserts to snow-topped mountain ranges, lush tropical rainforests and gorgeous ocean beaches; it encompasses almost every type of environment possible. It is comparable in size to the United States and is home to nearly 20 million people (â€Å"Australia’s Geography and History†). Australia also includes some of the most unique species of animals and geographic phenomena 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 are not reduced, and ocean pH levels continue to turn more acidic, this fragile ecosystem will become lost to future generations. Climate change has been discussed since the end of the 19th century, but scientists did not begin to take notice until studies began linking smog and pollution to dangerous increases in carbon dioxide which together have a â€Å"greenhouse effect† on the climate of the earth. Measurement of ocean temperatures supported these studies and created more concern for man-made disruption of theShow MoreRelated Great Barrier Reef Essay example1549 Words   |  7 Pages The Great Barrier Reef is known as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It is believed to be one of the most incredible places on this earth. This reef is the largest living organism on this planet and the only living thing on earth visible from space (2011). The warm waters of the southwest Pacific Ocean are the perfect environments to create the worlds largest system of coral reefs. The Great Barrier Reef is in such pristine condition that it was listed by the World Heritage Trust as a protectedRead MoreGreat Barr ier Reef893 Words   |  4 PagesThe Great Barrier Reef a World Heritage listed, it is the vastest stretch of coral reef in the world. This essay will provide information on how the Great Barrier Reef is being protected against global warming for our future generations. We all love going to the beach for a swim or a snorkel however a different image was created by an article published by the Australian Academy of Science on their web site Nova Science in the News (2009): â€Å"Imagine you are on a beautiful tropical island on theRead MoreHuman Overpopulation And Its Effects On Coral Reefs1540 Words   |  7 PagesThroughout the world, coral reefs have died off due to a chemical process known as bleaching. NOAA states in â€Å"What is coral bleaching?†, bleaching is the by-product of corals getting too warm; when corals get too warm they expel the algae (zooxanthellae) living in their tissues, which causes them to turn completely white. Today, the remaining coral reefs are being stressed by the human inhabitants who exist upon the land masses from which these reefs neighbor; which, in turn, has caused these remainingRead MoreThe Great Barrier Reef Is Important1142 Words   |  5 PagesThe Great Barrier Reef is one of the seven wonders around the world. It is approximately 344,400 kilometers long. The Great Barrier Reef is home to many marine organisms. More than 1,500 species of fish live in the Great Barrier Reef. The coral that forms The Great Barrier Reef is made of polyps. Billions of living coral polyps are attached to the reef. The colour of these polyps range from blue, green, purple, red and yellow. As the largest living structure on the planet, the Great Barrier ReefRead 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 MoreEssay On Building Reef Resilience1220 Words   |  5 Pagesconsideration of building reef resilience include components such as nature; intensity and length of time of effects that will be set in place so that groups of people, animals of species and homes where they reside will recover from effects more expeditious and consequently, sanction the community to perpetuate functioning at a positive rate. Fish are a great benefit to the environment and 1,625 species of fish, virtually 10% of the worlds fish species lives in the Great Barrier Reef so, it is highly recommendedRead 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 i t 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 More The Effects of Global Warming on the Great Barrier Reef Essay950 Words   |  4 PagesWarming on the Great Barrier Reef Introduction Coral reefs around the world are in danger. One of the causes is global warming, which has been increasing the temperature of the ocean water resulting in coral bleaching. This essay will focus on damage occurring to the Great Barrier Reef. What is a Coral Reef? A coral reef is a ridge formed in shallow ocean water by accumulated calcium-containing exoskeletons of coral animals, certain red algae, and mollusks. Coral reefs are tropical,Read MoreEssay on Rainforests of the Ocean942 Words   |  4 PagesRainforests of the Ocean Coral reefs are large societies of small living organisms. They are made up of millions of various creatures including fish, starfish, sea urchins, and so much more. Despite the fact that coral reefs make up fewer than one percentage of the Earth’s surface, coral reefs are still one of the greatest diversified ecosystems in the world due to the creatures that live in and around the reefs. Coral reefs are located in shallow, warm waters in the tropics around the Bahamas,Read MoreThe 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 Reef