Coral islands defy sea-level rise over the past century: Records from a central Pacific atoll
P.S. Kench, D. Thompson, M.R. Ford, H. Ogawa and R.F. McLean

Geological Society of America

Abstract

The geological stability and existence of low-lying atoll nations is threatened by sea-level rise and climate change. Funafuti Atoll, in the tropical Pacific Ocean, has experienced some of the highest rates of sea-level rise (∼5.1 ± 0.7 mm/yr), totaling ∼0.30 ± 0.04 m over the past 60 yr. We analyzed six time slices of shoreline position over the past 118 yr at 29 islands of Funafuti Atoll to determine their physical response to recent sea-level rise. Despite the magnitude of this rise, no islands have been lost, the majority have enlarged, and there has been a 7.3% increase in net island area over the past century (A.D. 1897–2013). There is no evidence of heightened erosion over the past half-century as sea-level rise accelerated. Reef islands in Funafuti continually adjust their size, shape, and position in response to variations in boundary conditions, including storms, sediment supply, as well as sea level. Results suggest a more optimistic prognosis for the habitability of atoll nations and demonstrate the importance of resolving recent rates and styles of island change to inform adaptation strategies.

Received 22 December 2014.
Revision received 24 March 2015.
Accepted 26 March 2015.

The_observer said:

Coral islands defy sea-level rise over the past century: Records from a central Pacific atoll
P.S. Kench, D. Thompson, M.R. Ford, H. Ogawa and R.F. McLean

Geological Society of America

Abstract

The geological stability and existence of low-lying atoll nations is threatened by sea-level rise and climate change. Funafuti Atoll, in the tropical Pacific Ocean, has experienced some of the highest rates of sea-level rise (∼5.1 ± 0.7 mm/yr), totaling ∼0.30 ± 0.04 m over the past 60 yr. We analyzed six time slices of shoreline position over the past 118 yr at 29 islands of Funafuti Atoll to determine their physical response to recent sea-level rise. Despite the magnitude of this rise, no islands have been lost, the majority have enlarged, and there has been a 7.3% increase in net island area over the past century (A.D. 1897–2013). There is no evidence of heightened erosion over the past half-century as sea-level rise accelerated. Reef islands in Funafuti continually adjust their size, shape, and position in response to variations in boundary conditions, including storms, sediment supply, as well as sea level. Results suggest a more optimistic prognosis for the habitability of atoll nations and demonstrate the importance of resolving recent rates and styles of island change to inform adaptation strategies.

Received 22 December 2014.
Revision received 24 March 2015.
Accepted 26 March 2015.

The gradual rise or fall of sea-levels will naturally not detrimentally effect corals, as they have been through past ice ages where sea-level changes were much greater than present, although they did change over thousands of years. The problem coral has is with high temperatures that bleach and kill the coral; this has already created considerable loss with coral reefs around the world. Corals are apparently very sensitive to temperature change and even an increase of a single degree can cause massive losses.

PermeateFree said:

The_observer said:

Coral islands defy sea-level rise over the past century: Records from a central Pacific atoll
P.S. Kench, D. Thompson, M.R. Ford, H. Ogawa and R.F. McLean

Geological Society of America

Abstract

The geological stability and existence of low-lying atoll nations is threatened by sea-level rise and climate change. Funafuti Atoll, in the tropical Pacific Ocean, has experienced some of the highest rates of sea-level rise (∼5.1 ± 0.7 mm/yr), totaling ∼0.30 ± 0.04 m over the past 60 yr. We analyzed six time slices of shoreline position over the past 118 yr at 29 islands of Funafuti Atoll to determine their physical response to recent sea-level rise. Despite the magnitude of this rise, no islands have been lost, the majority have enlarged, and there has been a 7.3% increase in net island area over the past century (A.D. 1897–2013). There is no evidence of heightened erosion over the past half-century as sea-level rise accelerated. Reef islands in Funafuti continually adjust their size, shape, and position in response to variations in boundary conditions, including storms, sediment supply, as well as sea level. Results suggest a more optimistic prognosis for the habitability of atoll nations and demonstrate the importance of resolving recent rates and styles of island change to inform adaptation strategies.

Received 22 December 2014.
Revision received 24 March 2015.
Accepted 26 March 2015.

The gradual rise or fall of sea-levels will naturally not detrimentally effect corals, as they have been through past ice ages where sea-level changes were much greater than present, although they did change over thousands of years. The problem coral has is with high temperatures that bleach and kill the coral; this has already created considerable loss with coral reefs around the world. Corals are apparently very sensitive to temperature change and even an increase of a single degree can cause massive losses.

Which is more destructive, sea level rise, or fall?

bob(from black rock) said:

PermeateFree said:

The_observer said:

Coral islands defy sea-level rise over the past century: Records from a central Pacific atoll
P.S. Kench, D. Thompson, M.R. Ford, H. Ogawa and R.F. McLean

Geological Society of America

Abstract

The geological stability and existence of low-lying atoll nations is threatened by sea-level rise and climate change. Funafuti Atoll, in the tropical Pacific Ocean, has experienced some of the highest rates of sea-level rise (∼5.1 ± 0.7 mm/yr), totaling ∼0.30 ± 0.04 m over the past 60 yr. We analyzed six time slices of shoreline position over the past 118 yr at 29 islands of Funafuti Atoll to determine their physical response to recent sea-level rise. Despite the magnitude of this rise, no islands have been lost, the majority have enlarged, and there has been a 7.3% increase in net island area over the past century (A.D. 1897–2013). There is no evidence of heightened erosion over the past half-century as sea-level rise accelerated. Reef islands in Funafuti continually adjust their size, shape, and position in response to variations in boundary conditions, including storms, sediment supply, as well as sea level. Results suggest a more optimistic prognosis for the habitability of atoll nations and demonstrate the importance of resolving recent rates and styles of island change to inform adaptation strategies.

Received 22 December 2014.
Revision received 24 March 2015.
Accepted 26 March 2015.

The gradual rise or fall of sea-levels will naturally not detrimentally effect corals, as they have been through past ice ages where sea-level changes were much greater than present, although they did change over thousands of years. The problem coral has is with high temperatures that bleach and kill the coral; this has already created considerable loss with coral reefs around the world. Corals are apparently very sensitive to temperature change and even an increase of a single degree can cause massive losses.

Which is more destructive, sea level rise, or fall?

Neither, it is the rate of change that is the problem. The current temperature increases are considerably faster than in previous ice ages.

PermeateFree said:

The_observer said:

Coral islands defy sea-level rise over the past century: Records from a central Pacific atoll
P.S. Kench, D. Thompson, M.R. Ford, H. Ogawa and R.F. McLean

Geological Society of America

Abstract

The geological stability and existence of low-lying atoll nations is threatened by sea-level rise and climate change. Funafuti Atoll, in the tropical Pacific Ocean, has experienced some of the highest rates of sea-level rise (∼5.1 ± 0.7 mm/yr), totaling ∼0.30 ± 0.04 m over the past 60 yr. We analyzed six time slices of shoreline position over the past 118 yr at 29 islands of Funafuti Atoll to determine their physical response to recent sea-level rise. Despite the magnitude of this rise, no islands have been lost, the majority have enlarged, and there has been a 7.3% increase in net island area over the past century (A.D. 1897–2013). There is no evidence of heightened erosion over the past half-century as sea-level rise accelerated. Reef islands in Funafuti continually adjust their size, shape, and position in response to variations in boundary conditions, including storms, sediment supply, as well as sea level. Results suggest a more optimistic prognosis for the habitability of atoll nations and demonstrate the importance of resolving recent rates and styles of island change to inform adaptation strategies.

Received 22 December 2014.
Revision received 24 March 2015.
Accepted 26 March 2015.

The gradual rise or fall of sea-levels will naturally not detrimentally effect corals, as they have been through past ice ages where sea-level changes were much greater than present, although they did change over thousands of years. The problem coral has is with high temperatures that bleach and kill the coral; this has already created considerable loss with coral reefs around the world. Corals are apparently very sensitive to temperature change and even an increase of a single degree can cause massive losses.

the threads about coral atolls not corals, dickhead

The_observer said:

PermeateFree said:

The_observer said:

Coral islands defy sea-level rise over the past century: Records from a central Pacific atoll
P.S. Kench, D. Thompson, M.R. Ford, H. Ogawa and R.F. McLean

Geological Society of America

Abstract

The geological stability and existence of low-lying atoll nations is threatened by sea-level rise and climate change. Funafuti Atoll, in the tropical Pacific Ocean, has experienced some of the highest rates of sea-level rise (∼5.1 ± 0.7 mm/yr), totaling ∼0.30 ± 0.04 m over the past 60 yr. We analyzed six time slices of shoreline position over the past 118 yr at 29 islands of Funafuti Atoll to determine their physical response to recent sea-level rise. Despite the magnitude of this rise, no islands have been lost, the majority have enlarged, and there has been a 7.3% increase in net island area over the past century (A.D. 1897–2013). There is no evidence of heightened erosion over the past half-century as sea-level rise accelerated. Reef islands in Funafuti continually adjust their size, shape, and position in response to variations in boundary conditions, including storms, sediment supply, as well as sea level. Results suggest a more optimistic prognosis for the habitability of atoll nations and demonstrate the importance of resolving recent rates and styles of island change to inform adaptation strategies.

Received 22 December 2014.
Revision received 24 March 2015.
Accepted 26 March 2015.

The gradual rise or fall of sea-levels will naturally not detrimentally effect corals, as they have been through past ice ages where sea-level changes were much greater than present, although they did change over thousands of years. The problem coral has is with high temperatures that bleach and kill the coral; this has already created considerable loss with coral reefs around the world. Corals are apparently very sensitive to temperature change and even an increase of a single degree can cause massive losses.

the threads about coral atolls not corals, dickhead

Corals make coral atolls o’wise one.

well they are like half animal half plant

so plants grow toward the light

if the oceans are getting a few mm higher each each then yes the corals would want to reach a few mm each year

CrazyNeutrino said:

well they are like half animal half plant

so plants grow toward the light

if the oceans are getting a few mm higher each each then yes the corals would want to reach a few mm each year

hey stupid, do you realise that this paper has nothing to do with coral growing?

From the IPCC Fifth Assesment Report (AR5):

https://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar5/wg2/drafts/fd/WGIIAR5-Chap29_FGDall.pdf

“Since the AR4 a number of empirical studies have documented historical changes in island shorelines. Historical
shoreline position change over 20 – 60 years on 27 central Pacific atoll islands showed that total land area remained
relatively stable in 43 per cent of islands, whilst another 43 per cent had increased in area, and the rest showed a net
reduction in land area (Webb and Kench, 2010). Dynamic responses were also found in a four year study of 17
relatively pristine islands on two other central Pacific atolls in Kiribati by Rankey (2011) who concluded that sealevel
rise was not likely to be the main influencing factor in these shoreline changes. Similarly in French Polynesia
Yates et al. (2013) showed mixed shoreline change patterns over the last 40 – 50 years with examples of both
erosion and accretion in the 47 atoll islands assessed. Sea-level rise did not appear to be the primary control on
shoreline processes on these islands.”

“I’m Crazyneutrino, &, I Am An Alcoholic”

I liked going to school,
I didn’t want to fool around with drugs
Cuz all of my friends were dropping out
I had to get stuff done, I wasn’t fun
I didn’t try pot ‘til I was 21,
but now I’m overcompensating

I’d like to see what morning looks like
Don’t wanna drink pint after pint
I wanna wake up without feeling sick
But I can’t cuz I’m a drug-abusing alcoholic
I can’t cuz I’m a drug-abusing alcoholic
I can’t cuz I’m a drug-abusing alcoholic
I can’t cuz I’m a drug-abusing alcoholic

The_observer said:

“I’m Crazyneutrino, &, I Am An Alcoholic”

I liked going to school,
I didn’t want to fool around with drugs
Cuz all of my friends were dropping out
I had to get stuff done, I wasn’t fun
I didn’t try pot ‘til I was 21,
but now I’m overcompensating

I’d like to see what morning looks like
Don’t wanna drink pint after pint
I wanna wake up without feeling sick
But I can’t cuz I’m a drug-abusing alcoholic
I can’t cuz I’m a drug-abusing alcoholic
I can’t cuz I’m a drug-abusing alcoholic
I can’t cuz I’m a drug-abusing alcoholic

LOL

“New paper proves that coral atolls keep up with sea level rise”

The paper doesn’t “prove” anything. That’s not how science works.

This paper does add support to the current IPCC assessment, though.

> New paper proves that coral atolls keep up with sea level rise

Well dah.

Darwin proved that in the year 1839.

mollwollfumble said:

> New paper proves that coral atolls keep up with sea level rise

Well dah.

Darwin proved that in the year 1839.

No he didn’t.

I have no idea what he did do, but given the very limited data available at that time it couldn’t have amounted to anything remotely near a proof.

From http://www.tuvaluislands.com/

““We live in constant fear of the adverse impacts of climate change.
For a coral atoll nation, sea level rise and more severe weather events loom
as a growing threat to our entire population. The threat is real and serious,
and is of no difference to a slow and insidious form of terrorism against us.”

—Saufatu Sopoanga, Prime Minister of Tuvalu,
at the 58th Session of the United Nations General Assembly New York, 24th September 2003
.

.

The_observer said:

From http://www.tuvaluislands.com/

““We live in constant fear of the adverse impacts of climate change.
For a coral atoll nation, sea level rise and more severe weather events loom
as a growing threat to our entire population. The threat is real and serious,
and is of no difference to a slow and insidious form of terrorism against us.”

—Saufatu Sopoanga, Prime Minister of Tuvalu,
at the 58th Session of the United Nations General Assembly New York, 24th September 2003

If you expressed more often a skepticism of political and idealogical propoganda rather than a misplaced skepticism of genuine scientific research and conclusion you would be taken more seriously around these parts. We are all refugees after all, from a once-science forum.

Is there a lot of bullshit associated with climate change? Yep! There sure is. On both sides.

Tuvalu makes a small fortune based on the fact it was assigned the .tv domain on the internet. They have used that money to enable themselves to wield undue influence on the United Nations. They have used this influence to garner an influx of further money by misrepresenting the science of climate change and painting themselves as vitctims of the nasty industrialised countries of the world.

None of this has anything to do with the scientific question of whether AGW is real or not, or what the best social, economic and rational responses to said AGW are.

The Rev Dodgson said:

mollwollfumble said:

> New paper proves that coral atolls keep up with sea level rise

Well dah.

Darwin proved that in the year 1839.

No he didn’t.

I have no idea what he did do, but given the very limited data available at that time it couldn’t have amounted to anything remotely near a proof.

Like his theory of evolution by natural selection, this was disputed for a while before being universally accepted. Charles Darwin was well aware of sea level rise, even though he didn’t have a modern understanding of its causes, on his trip aboard the Beagle, long before he came up with Evolution by Natural Selection.

Anyway, you should have heard from your nursery school teacher that Australia’s Great Barrier Reef was created by sea level rise. Everyone ought to know that by now.

mollwollfumble said:

The Rev Dodgson said:

mollwollfumble said:

> New paper proves that coral atolls keep up with sea level rise

Well dah.

Darwin proved that in the year 1839.

No he didn’t.

I have no idea what he did do, but given the very limited data available at that time it couldn’t have amounted to anything remotely near a proof.

Like his theory of evolution by natural selection, this was disputed for a while before being universally accepted. Charles Darwin was well aware of sea level rise, even though he didn’t have a modern understanding of its causes, on his trip aboard the Beagle, long before he came up with Evolution by Natural Selection.

Anyway, you should have heard from your nursery school teacher that Australia’s Great Barrier Reef was created by sea level rise. Everyone ought to know that by now.

Both of those statements have nothing to do with Darwin’s work on coral atolls amounting to a proof that their growth will keep up with sea-level rise at the rates then current, let alone a couple of hundred years in the future. There are a large number of potential mechanisms by which isolated examples of coral atolls might keep up with sea level changes at a particular location, and without studying a large number of cases, with accurate data of what sea levels and land levels were doing at each location no “proof” is possible.

Whether the paper quoted in this thread really amounts to “proof” I don’t know either, since you have to buy it to read it.