Team:Manchester/Reflections
Reflections on Criticisms and Concerns
In our YouTube analysis we noticed a comment that claimed sunscreens do not contribute to coral bleaching. We reflected on this comment and realised that our project is limited because it cannot solve coral bleaching entirely. In our interviews with Dr. Hennige we discussed the effects of global warming and came to the conclusion that anthropogenic climate change was the main contributor to bleaching events. In order to ensure our project has a positive impact on the world we want to use our project as a platform to promote ethical consumerism and inform people about the wider issue.
- Our skin and the Oceans
UV rays shine down from the sun and penetrate deep into the skin cells. Absorbed UV results in wrinkles, dryness and DNA damage which can cause cancer development. We use sunscreen to care for our skin, now we can use sunscreen to care for our oceans. Our project HippoSol is hoping to solve this problem by containing the first organic, reef-safe UV filter.
We encourage people to use sunscreen as a potential vessel vessel for the positive message that caring for the oceans is just as important as caring for our skin
- Climate Change
Throughout this project we have become increasingly aware of the main cause of coral bleaching in anthropogenic climate change. Dr Hennige (coral reef researcher) explained how rising sea temperatures create stress for corals resulting in the expulsion of symbiont zooxanthellae algae.
Our aim in this section is to redirect attention to the bigger issue to respond appropriately to the criticisms raised in our Integrated Human Practices and have a positive effect in the long-term.
What is “Climate Change”?
“Climate Change” is any long-term alteration in normal weather patterns globally or regionally (1). Changes in weather events are a normal part of our planet however, in recent years the Climate change definition has shifted to include both global warming, driven by the emission of greenhouse gases, and the resulting large-scale shifts in weather patterns (2). Earth absorbs sunlight which is then radiated back into space as infrared radiation. This radiation is then absorbed by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere deflecting the heat back on to the earth’s surface (3). Water vapour is the biggest contributor to this “greenhouse effect” however, water is considered a feedback as it increases as a function of temperature. In contrast, pollutant gases such as carbon dioxide, ozone and nitrous oxides are not temperature dependent and are considered external forcings (4).
Human activity, such as extracting and burning fossil fuels, has been steadily increasing since the Industrial Revolution; in 2018 CO2 and methane concentrations have increased by 45% and 160% since 1750 (5). Geological evidence from ice cores suggests that CO2 levels are much higher than they have been during the last 800,000 years (6, 7) (make this bolded sentence coloured to stand out). As the concentration of these gases in our atmosphere increases the greenhouse effect is exacerbated and earth’s surface temperature gradually begins to rise. Emissions are mostly attributed to the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, livestock and other contributors such as fertilisers (8, 9, 10). The rising temperature of the earth’s surface warms the sea and this has disastrous consequences for coral reef ecosystems.
Figure by US EPA, 2012.
What is the impact of Climate Change on Coral Reefs?
The central feature of shallow-water coastal ecosystems is a dependence on symbiosis between invertebrates and dinoflagellate microalgae; corals and their zooxanthellae algae survive by limiting the flow of nitrogen and other essential nutrients to the rest of the sea (15). Bleaching occurs when the thermal tolerance of the coral and its algae has been exceeded and this can happen on local or geographic scales potentially involving entire reef systems (15, 11, 12). A report by Glynn in 1993 indicated that 70% of coral bleaching reports were caused by warmer sea temperatures (13).
Studies have suggested that a 1°C rise in the summer maximum was enough to push corals beyond their thermal limits and sea temperatures are currently increasing at a rate of 1-2°C per century.
When exposed to heat beyond their tolerance, it results in the phenomenon of photoinhibition; a disruption of the photosynthesis reaction resulting in the overproduction of oxygen free radicals which create oxidative stress around the coral (15). This leads to the loss of coloration and the death of the coral. Corals that are not killed by bleaching events have reduced growth and calcification repair capabilities and these effects ripple into the reef reducing the overall ecosystem productivity (13,14). This may lead to the death or decline of other marine organisms that depend on the reefs to survive. The ecological effects of these changes have not been properly assessed and could be potentially detrimental to the entire marine ecosystem.
Figures taken from USFWS Pacific, 2018 and The Ocean Agency, 2016."
Our advice to you
- Understand sustainability - In today’s cultural climate “sustainability” refers to the capacity for the biosphere and human civilisation to coexist. To live sustainably means to live in a homeostasis, in which the exploitation of resources, development of society and institutional change are balanced with species population and survival of ecosystems. In this sense available resources must not be depleted before new resources are naturally generated.
- Make small changes – using reef-safe sunscreen and other eco-conscious products drives demand for ethical consumerism. Moving towards sustainability is a social challenge that requires international law and supply chain management. Making conscious changes to the type of products we buy pushes society towards the point where large-scale changes are possible as demand for eco-conscious products rise in every consumer category.
