A diver is pictured surrounding by large numbers of salps
Posted on 11/18/2008 6:53:17 PM PST by SunkenCiv
Large numbers of 'marine 'jelly balls' that have appeared off the east coast of Australia could be part of the planet's mechanism for combating global warming, scientists have said.
The jellyfish-like animals are known as salps, and feed on small plants in the water called phytoplankton (marine algae).
The plants absorb the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through the top level of the ocean...
Scientists said their numbers were up to 10 times greater than when first surveyed 70 years ago...
Their appearance in Australian waters is seasonal but scientists believe the increased numbers are a result of a strong East Australian current, which brings more nutrients to the surface waters for the algae that the salps prefer to eat...
Salps are also of interest because in the Southern Ocean near Antarctica they are thought to be displacing krill, an important food source for many marine animals.
By eating the algae, the salps turn the algae and their carbon dioxide into faeces which drops to the ocean floor. They also take carbon to the floor with them when they die after a short two-week life cycle.
This is thought to be a natural form of carbon sequestration similar to what scientists are trying to do with carbon capture from emission sources such as power stations.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
A diver is pictured surrounding by large numbers of salps
 |
||
| · join · view topics · view or post blog · bookmark · post new topic · | ||
Am I juvenile for giggling at the title?
Probably but I’m tired and can’t help myself.
Jellies....
Awesome! Life REALLY is an RPG! :D
More wonders from our Creator!
What global warming?
I wonder if the dinosaurs would still be around if Al Gore was around back then to save them from their demise? Thank God hes around today to save us from the impending doom of global warming, and to think God himself didn’t even factor in such a paradox?!
Don’t forget the internet!
We have a lot to thank that man for!
“Jelly balls” sounds like an Australian insult anyway. ;’)
Murtha?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
