Global warming is destroying the Great Barrier Reef. A scientist has published a paper today saying that radical ideas are needed to save the reef. Climate change has meant that the sea around world’s biggest coral reef has increased in temperature and acidity is slowly destroying the reef.

Ove Hoegh-Guldberg of the University of Queensland’s Global Change Institute, says the time for saving the reef through global action on climate change may be running out. In a paper published in the journal Nature Climate Change today, Professor Hoegh-Guldberg calls for studies into solutions for damage done to the area.

Some of the Professor’s more novel ideas include using very large shade cloths to protect coral from heat stress (The Great Barrier Car Port), using low-voltage electric currents to stimulate coral growth (The Great Barrier Frankenstein), and genetic engineering to help marine life cope (the Great Barrier Andromeda).

The Professor believes that conventional approaches to climate change have so far failed to prevent damage to the reef. While he admits that localised engineering fixes will not bring around broad enough change to save the reefs, the ideas still need to be examined:

We need to do the research, because we are looking at a future which is pretty grim for coral, and if we don’t do the research no amount of local solutions will work.

He said it was unwise to assume we will be able to stabilise atmospheric carbon dioxide at levels necessary to prevent ongoing damage to marine ecosystems. Current reports estimate that atmospheric carbon dioxide could increase to more than 80 per cent above pre-industrial levels by 2050. Which is why the sort of research Professor Hoegh-Guldberg is asking for is so important.

[Source: Sky News]