Did rapid sea-level rise drown fossil coral reefs around Hawaii? – Phys Org
Article Synopsis – Researchers studying fossils of ancient coral reefs off the coast of Hawaii have discovered that past episodes of rapid sea level rise caused the ‘drowning’ or death of coral reefs. This period of fast sea level rise, called a meltwater pulse (referred to as meltwater pulse 1-A), was caused by the collapse of the Greenland, and possibly Antarctic, ice sheets as the Earth warmed after the last ice age. During the meltwater pulse, sea level rose quicker than the reefs could grow, preventing them from receiving enough sunlight and ultimately causing the death of the reefs. Although this pulse was greater than current modeling predictions of sea level rise over the next few hundred years, it provides an example of the risks rapid environmental change poses to our marine ecosystems. To read the actual article click here.