Local Issues. Global Implications.
Our research focuses on global and local stressors to marine ecosystems, particularly coral reefs, which hold great cultural, economic and recreational value in island communities. Specifically, we are interested in the physical and chemical conditions that support or inhibit coral reef growth. We incorporate a broad range of tools to address this research including carbonate chemistry, biogeochemistry, isotope geochemistry and sensors. Find out more below.
Ocean Acidification
Oceanic absorption of atmospheric CO2 leads to a decrease in the pH and aragonite saturation state of seawater. This process, termed ocean acidification, has numerous negative consequences for organisms that form calcium carbonate shells and skeletons. Coral reefs, which are of great significance to the Hawaiian culture, are threatened by ocean acidification.
Eutrophication
and
Coastal Acidification
Eutrophication refers to an increase in nutrient concentrations and can also lead to coastal acidification. Collectively, these processes can cause ecosystem shifts from coral to algal-dominated communities, decreased calcification and increased biorerosion of the coral reef structure.
Sedimentation
Increased sediment delivery to coral reefs is caused by changing precipitation patterns that lead to larger flooding and runoff events, increasing sea level that causes erosion of shorelines and changes in land-use such as deforestation and urbanization. The impacts of sedimentation and increased turbidity to coral health include reduced diversity, cover, growth and calcification, and increased mortality.
CONTACT US
Department of Oceanography
University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST)
1000 Pope Road, Marine Sciences Building (MSB)
Honolulu, HI 96822 USA
Andrea Kealoha, PhD
email: andreake@hawaii.edu
