By Jessica C. Hamamoto
Ka Leo Contributing Writer
October 12, 2006

Burning fossil fuels such as coal, gas and oil, and the decimation of the world’s forests have dramatically increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the earth’s atmosphere.

This year, carbon dioxide levels, measured at the Mauna Loa observatory on the Big Island, have reached record levels.

Honolulu, Hawaii (Oct 10, 2006 17:47 EST) As part of the international Census of Marine Life (CoML), a team of world renown scientists will embark on an expedition to explore coral reef biodiversity in the largest fully protected marine area in the world--the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument.

NOAA and the National Science Teachers Association announced the unveiling of the Coral Ecosystem SciGuide, a new Web-based "science toolbox" for teachers and other educators. The SciGuide was developed collaboratively by the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program and NSTA, as part of a cooperative agreement between NSTA and the NOAA Ocean Service...

Washington -- Oceana announces its outreach program for the scuba diving community today following the presidential announcement that calls on the United Nations to eliminate destructive fishing practices on deep-sea corals and seamounts.

THE HAGUE - Untreated sewage pouring into the world's seas and oceans is polluting their water and coastlines and endangering the health and welfare of the people and animals that inhabit them, according to a U.N. report released Wednesday.

As well as the growing problem of sewage, oceans also are suffering from rising levels of nutrients such as runoff from agricultural land triggering toxic algal blooms that deprive the water of oxygen, destruction of coastal ecosystems such as mangroves and a rising tide of ocean litter, says the U.N. Environment Program's State of the Marine Environment report.

The research capacity of the University of Victoria-led NEPTUNE Canada, the world’s first regional cabled ocean observatory, received a significant boost today with the announcement of an additional $20 million in funding.

The $8 million from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), $8 million from the BC Knowledge Development Fund (BCKDF) and $4 million of in-kind support from private partners including Alcatel will allow scientists to significantly expand the scope and scientific impact of the NEPTUNE Canada observatory...

Aceh, Indonesia (Sep 27, 2006 22:33 EST) The impact of a tsunami on a coral reef is minimal in comparison to human-caused damage according to a new study published in the journal Atoll Research Bulletin.

The research, conducted less than 100 days after the massive Indian Ocean tsunami of December 26th, 2004, found limited damage to coral or reef fish communities across 49 reefs surveyed in northern Aceh, Indonesia.

Jakarta - Indonesia is likely to pipe hot mud that is surging from a gas well into the sea to head off an unfolding crisis, even though the sludge might kill marine life, a minister said on Tuesday.

The mud, which runs 5m deep in some places, has submerged houses in four villages since it started spewing from a hole on densely populated Java Island almost four months ago, displacing more than 10 000 people.

MAT PROBASCO
Associated Press

CHARLOTTE AMALIE, U.S. Virgin Islands - Scientists have issued their strongest warning so far this year that unusually warm Caribbean Sea temperatures threaten coral reefs that suffered widespread damage last year in record-setting heat.