A new international study led by Monash University climate scientists has found reef sand is dissolving much quicker than previously thought due to the impact of microbes.
The study, published recently in Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, was led by Dr Adam Kessler from the School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment. “We know that climate change is acidifying the oceans,” Dr Kessler said.
“And we know that this is bad for ocean life, such as coral, shellfish and plankton.
“But our study has shown that the ocean is just about acidic enough now that the sand that makes up the reef will soon start to dissolve – specifically carbonate sands, or those bright white sands you see in Queensland.”
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Image via Monash University
