研究人员说,随着气候变暖导致海洋酸化,全球最大的珊瑚礁群、澳大利亚大堡礁消失的风险大于此前预期。那是因为随着海洋吸收更多人类焚烧石化燃料所产生的二氧化碳,海水中的霰石(aragonite)含量将加速减少。霰石是组成珊瑚骨架的一种矿物质。由于海洋化学环境遭到了破坏,海水的pH值降低、霰石含量减少了,珊瑚无法重建其骨架,反而会随着时间的流逝而慢慢解体。 Researchers say the risk of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia disappearing more than previously expected as the world’s largest coral reefs have become acidified by the climate. That is because the aragonite content in seawater will accelerate to decrease as the oceans absorb more carbon dioxide from burning human fossil fuels. Aragonite is a mineral that makes up the coral skeleton. Due to the destruction of the marine chemical environment, the pH value of seawater is reduced and the content of aragonite is reduced. Coral can not rebuild its skeleton, but will gradually disintegrate as time goes by.