Test tank
A ‘sun shield’ made from an ultra-thin surface film is showing promise as a potential weapon in the fight to protect the Great Barrier Reef from the impacts of coral bleaching.
Great Barrier Reef Foundation Managing Director Anna Marsden said the results from a small-scale research trial led by the scientist who also developed Australia’s polymer bank notes were very encouraging.
The project was supported by The Tiffany & Co. Foundation, made possible through a grant to the University of Melbourne USA Foundation.
“We’ve partnered with scientists from the University of Melbourne and the Australian Institute of Marine Science to develop sun protection for the Reef,” Ms Marsden said.
“The ‘sun shield’ is 50,000 times thinner than a human hair and completely biodegradable, containing the same ingredient corals use to make their hard skeletons – calcium carbonate. It’s designed to sit on the surface of the water above the corals, rather than directly on the corals, to provide an effective barrier against the sun.
“While it’s still early days, and the trials have been on a small scale, the testing shows the film reduced light by up to 30%.
“Scientists tested the effectiveness of the one molecule thick film on seven different coral species in simulated coral bleaching event conditions at the Australian Institute of Marine Science’s National Sea Simulator (SeaSim).
“The surface film provided protection and reduced the level of bleaching in most species.”
With the surface film containing the same ingredient that corals use to make their skeletons, the research also showed the film had no harmful effects on the corals during the trials.
“This is a great example of developing and testing out-of-the-box solutions that harness expertise from different areas. In this case, we had chemical engineers and experts in polymer science working with marine ecologists and coral experts to bring this innovation to life,” Ms Marsden said.
“The project set out to explore new ways to help reduce the impact of coral bleaching affecting the Great Barrier Reef and coral reefs globally and it created an opportunity to test the idea that by reducing the amount of sunlight from reaching the corals in the first place, we can prevent them from becoming stressed which leads to bleaching.
“It’s important to note that this is not intended to be a solution that can be applied over the whole 348,000 square kilometres of Great Barrier Reef – that would never be practical. But it could be deployed on a smaller, local level to protect high value or high-risk areas of reef.
“The concept needs more work and testing before it gets to that stage, but it’s an exciting development at a time when we need to explore all possible options to ensure we have a Great Barrier Reef for future generations.”
Learn more: Reef ‘sun shield’ trials show promise to prevent coral bleaching
The Latest on: Coral bleaching
What Is Coral Bleaching? - Live Science
January 31, 2019 - What Is Coral Bleaching? Live ScienceOnce vibrantly colored and teeming with life, many coral reefs around the planet are now bleached and barren, thanks to a condition called coral bleaching.
February 6, 2019 - Florida's Key West bans sunscreen ingredients that scientists say contribute to coral reef 'bleaching' Fox NewsSunscreens that contain two specific chemicals will no longer be sold in Key West, Florida, as scientists have said they likely contribute to what is known as coral ...Great Barrier Reef coral at risk of bleaching from Queensland flood waters - The Guardian
February 18, 2019 - Great Barrier Reef coral at risk of bleaching from Queensland flood waters The GuardianMarine park authority fear freshwater bleaching after scientists report 'extensive' flood plumes and drop in water salinity.
Australia's Great Barrier Reef Inundated by Queensland Flood Plumes - The Weather Channel
February 18, 2019 - Australia's Great Barrier Reef Inundated by Queensland Flood Plumes The Weather ChannelAustralia's Great Barrier Reef is facing yet another threat. Runoff from floods that have devastated parts of Queensland recently have created large polluted ...Coral Reefs in West Hawaiʽi Showing Signs of Recovery - Maui Now
January 22, 2019 - Coral Reefs in West Hawaiʽi Showing Signs of Recovery Maui NowNearly four years after the worst bleaching event in the state's history, coral reefs in West Hawaiʽi are stabilizing, according to The Nature Conservancy.Hawaii coral reefs stabilizing following bleaching event - Minneapolis Star Tribune
January 24, 2019 - Hawaii coral reefs stabilizing following bleaching event Minneapolis Star TribuneKAILUA-KONA, Hawaii — Coral reefs off the Big Island are stabilizing nearly four years after Hawaii's worst bleaching event, an environmental organization said.
Key West bans sunscreens containing ingredients linked to coral bleaching - Yahoo Sports
February 12, 2019 - Key West bans sunscreens containing ingredients linked to coral bleaching Yahoo SportsLess than a year after Hawaii voted to ban all chemical sunscreens known to harm the coral reef, Key West, Fla., has officially decided upon a similar vote.
Australian floods send dirty water across Great Barrier Reef - BBC News
February 15, 2019 - Australian floods send dirty water across Great Barrier Reef BBC NewsDirty water from a flood crisis in northern Australia has spread to parts of the Great Barrier Reef, placing it under stress, scientists say. The floods are the result of ...
Climate change an 'imminent' security threat, risk experts say - Reuters
February 20, 2019 - Climate change an 'imminent' security threat, risk experts say ReutersTHE HAGUE (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Climate change threats - from worsening water shortages in Iraq and Pakistan to harsher hurricanes in the ...
Great Barrier Reef: record heatwave may cause another coral bleaching event - The Guardian
November 28, 2018 - Great Barrier Reef: record heatwave may cause another coral bleaching event The GuardianA record-breaking heatwave in north Queensland will further increase above-average marine temperatures, heightening the risk of another coral bleaching ...
via Google News
The Latest on: Coral bleaching
- Coral Reefs and Global Warming on February 19, 2019 at 6:59 pm
This activity allows students to use authentic scientific data to make claims about the threat of coral bleaching for reefs around the world. Students download temperature and satellite data files for ... […]
- The Stream, February 19: Great Barrier Reef at Risk of Bleaching Due to Freshwater Plumes from Queensland Flooding on February 18, 2019 at 9:15 pm
The Great Barrier Reef is at risk of coral bleaching in the wake of the Queensland, Australia, floods. Independent testing finds lead levels in Flint, Michigan, are below the federal action level. The ... […]
- Bonaire: Where Coral and Cactus Thrive, and the Sea Soothes the Soul on February 18, 2019 at 2:16 am
Hurricanes, overdevelopment and warming seas have devastated coral reefs around Florida, inducing a condition called coral bleaching. After that, I paid more attention to headlines about dying coral r... […]
- Great Barrier Reef coral at risk of bleaching from Queensland flood waters on February 17, 2019 at 8:10 pm
The Great Barrier Reef is in danger of further coral bleaching due to recent flooding in north Queensland. Photograph: Ed Roberts/ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies Freshwater bleaching o... […]
- Menindee fish kill is Australia's mainland 'coral bleaching event', scientists warn Labor on February 17, 2019 at 5:15 pm
"Excess" upstream irrigation, drought and water releases from the Menindee Lakes created the perfect storm that led to the ecologically disastrous fish kills over summer, according to scientists who p... […]
- The Great Barrier Reef Is Being Covered with Vast Plumes of Polluted Floodwater That Could Kill Coral on February 15, 2019 at 7:44 am
The newest environmental threat couldn’t have come at a worse time for the reef, which in the last few years has been struck by a damaging cyclone and two catastrophic mass coral bleaching events—the ... […]
- Key West Bans Sunscreen Containing Harmful Chemicals to Coral Reefs on February 7, 2019 at 8:24 pm
The Key West City Commission voted to ban chemical sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate, which studies have shown can cause coral bleaching and even death. The popular tourist destination, ... […]
- The coral-like sculptures this woman makes come with important message about climate change on February 7, 2019 at 7:08 am
(MORE: Australia's Great Barrier Reef suffers severe coral bleaching) And dying coral reefs impact a lot of ocean life. “Twenty-five percent of all species in the ocean rely on coral reefs to survive. ... […]
- Key West Bans Popular Sunscreen To Protect Coral Reef on February 7, 2019 at 5:42 am
Mayor Teri Johnston said it’s the commission’s “obligation” to protect the reef, which is the only living coral barrier reef in the continental U.S. Researchers say the chemicals lead to bleaching, DN... […]
via Bing News