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Then how do we explain the huge number of fossil reefs in the geological record from times when temperatures were much warmer and C02 levels were around 10 time

Then how do we explain the huge number of fossil reefs in the geological record from times when temperatures were much warmer and C02 levels were around 10 times as high as they are today? Besides if the temperature warms 2 degrees won't corals adapted to tropical waters colonize currently colder waters that are at that point perfectly suited?

mikestew 7y ago
won't corals adapted to tropical waters colonize currently colder waters that are at that point perfectly suited? What, they just call up American Vanlines to come pack their shit and move them 10 degrees north? No, temperature change will happen quickly enough that the coral will die before they migrate.
- mythrwy 7y ago
  Corals produce polyps that are mobile early in life and wash all over. They won't have any trouble moving if temperatures change. In fact it's already been observed to happen. https://www.nature.com/news/2011/110121/full/news.2011.33.html https://www.nature.com/news/2011/110121/full/news.2011.33.ht... Corals are not going to die out in 30 years, 50 years, probably not before humans die out. Corals have been around for a long time and are highly adaptable. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fossil_Coral_Reef https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fossil_Coral_Reef For fun you can look at temps and C02 levels during Devonian period. No glaciers, much warmer than today. Very high C02 because carbon we are burning today had not been sequestered yet. Yet a coral reef was formed, a big one.
  - adrianN 7y ago
    You'd better call up the IPCC and tell them of your findings, because they believe that 99% of the coral will be dead in a 2° world with high confidence. Currently our emissions are on a path for much stronger warming that even that.
    - mythrwy 7y ago
      Appeal to authority isn't really an argument though. I've laid the fact I know of out, you are free to believe what you want.
      - adrianN 7y ago
        I'm not an expert on coral reef ecology, and probably neither are you. Believing the scientists who are is the natural choice.
        deleted 7y ago
        [deleted]

mikestew 7y ago

won't corals adapted to tropical waters colonize currently colder waters that are at that point perfectly suited? What, they just call up American Vanlines to come pack their shit and move them 10 degrees north? No, temperature change will happen quickly enough that the coral will die before they migrate.

mythrwy 7y ago
Corals produce polyps that are mobile early in life and wash all over. They won't have any trouble moving if temperatures change. In fact it's already been observed to happen. https://www.nature.com/news/2011/110121/full/news.2011.33.html https://www.nature.com/news/2011/110121/full/news.2011.33.ht... Corals are not going to die out in 30 years, 50 years, probably not before humans die out. Corals have been around for a long time and are highly adaptable. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fossil_Coral_Reef https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fossil_Coral_Reef For fun you can look at temps and C02 levels during Devonian period. No glaciers, much warmer than today. Very high C02 because carbon we are burning today had not been sequestered yet. Yet a coral reef was formed, a big one.
- adrianN 7y ago
  You'd better call up the IPCC and tell them of your findings, because they believe that 99% of the coral will be dead in a 2° world with high confidence. Currently our emissions are on a path for much stronger warming that even that.
  - mythrwy 7y ago
    Appeal to authority isn't really an argument though. I've laid the fact I know of out, you are free to believe what you want.
    - adrianN 7y ago
      I'm not an expert on coral reef ecology, and probably neither are you. Believing the scientists who are is the natural choice.
      - deleted 7y ago
        [deleted]