While getting my masters, I studied Coral Reefs in
Belize, Central America. Belize is a beautiful country
and home to the second largest barrier reef in the
world. In 1990 the reef complex I was studying was a
healthy system, composed of 83% live coral cover.
Coral bleaching occurred in 1995, and again in 1998.
When I came around to study the complex in 2000, the
complex contained less than 3% live coral cover.
Remembering that it takes hundreds of years for corals
to develop, it amazed me to see so much degradation
happen in just 5 years. And it's not just happening in
Belize, it's happening to corals all over the world, which
just staggered me!
Why are coral reefs so important? The ocean can
pretty much destroy anything given enough time, and
unfortunately nothing man has built to date can with
stand the constant battering (tides, waves, storms,
etc.) long term. However, when the ocean breaks a
section of coral, a healthy coral system can regrow that
area. This offers shore line protection and reduces
erosion of beaches and land. Not only that, coral reefs
are the home to the majority of life in the ocean. They
provide food, medicines and untold wonders we have
yet to discover!
Seeing these effects like I did made me a HUGE
believer in global warming. I also refuse to own or
wear any coral. To me this encourages the mining and
degradation of corals, which I believe are too valuable
in their natural habitat to exploit!
Belize, Central America. Belize is a beautiful country
and home to the second largest barrier reef in the
world. In 1990 the reef complex I was studying was a
healthy system, composed of 83% live coral cover.
Coral bleaching occurred in 1995, and again in 1998.
When I came around to study the complex in 2000, the
complex contained less than 3% live coral cover.
Remembering that it takes hundreds of years for corals
to develop, it amazed me to see so much degradation
happen in just 5 years. And it's not just happening in
Belize, it's happening to corals all over the world, which
just staggered me!
Why are coral reefs so important? The ocean can
pretty much destroy anything given enough time, and
unfortunately nothing man has built to date can with
stand the constant battering (tides, waves, storms,
etc.) long term. However, when the ocean breaks a
section of coral, a healthy coral system can regrow that
area. This offers shore line protection and reduces
erosion of beaches and land. Not only that, coral reefs
are the home to the majority of life in the ocean. They
provide food, medicines and untold wonders we have
yet to discover!
Seeing these effects like I did made me a HUGE
believer in global warming. I also refuse to own or
wear any coral. To me this encourages the mining and
degradation of corals, which I believe are too valuable
in their natural habitat to exploit!
Coral Reefs - Belize, Central America
This is a reef a in Belize. The yellowish
areas are healthy coral. In 1990, this
reef was a bulbous structure and would
have been 83% yellow. Now, due to
bleaching cavities have developed
causing reef collapse.
areas are healthy coral. In 1990, this
reef was a bulbous structure and would
have been 83% yellow. Now, due to
bleaching cavities have developed
causing reef collapse.
Several years ago, Cold Sight was the first idea that raced through my
mind and I needed to get it out! So I started writing. Since then, I joined
MARA and MRW and the writers there have really sparked my
imagination into coming up with more ideas, most of which my fingers
can't keep up with.
Right now I'm working on a paranormal series, some science fiction, and
a few contemporaries. Look at my blog to see how I'm doing. I may not
be able to update it as much as I'd like, what with real life and everything,
so be patient. Speaking of real life, I live in Kansas City and work as an
environmental geologist. I've been cleaning up environmental spills since
2002 and travel a lot, usually spending my evenings writing in some hotel
or reading. Needless to say, my laptop is never far from my side.
I've been camping in Alaska, snorkeling in Belize, and a lot in between.
And if you ever see some crazy redhead chasing a small creature with a
camera, it's probably me.
I've been very fortunate to have excellent friends and family who have
supported my writing and other dreams. I'd like to say thank you to all of
them, especially my mother and my critique groups. And a special thanks
to MARA and MRW. They really have pushed to get out there, and I have
to say I've never been happier in my life! Also, thanks to my friends for
their support and for dragging me from my computer and reminding me
there is life outside of fiction!
mind and I needed to get it out! So I started writing. Since then, I joined
MARA and MRW and the writers there have really sparked my
imagination into coming up with more ideas, most of which my fingers
can't keep up with.
Right now I'm working on a paranormal series, some science fiction, and
a few contemporaries. Look at my blog to see how I'm doing. I may not
be able to update it as much as I'd like, what with real life and everything,
so be patient. Speaking of real life, I live in Kansas City and work as an
environmental geologist. I've been cleaning up environmental spills since
2002 and travel a lot, usually spending my evenings writing in some hotel
or reading. Needless to say, my laptop is never far from my side.
I've been camping in Alaska, snorkeling in Belize, and a lot in between.
And if you ever see some crazy redhead chasing a small creature with a
camera, it's probably me.
I've been very fortunate to have excellent friends and family who have
supported my writing and other dreams. I'd like to say thank you to all of
them, especially my mother and my critique groups. And a special thanks
to MARA and MRW. They really have pushed to get out there, and I have
to say I've never been happier in my life! Also, thanks to my friends for
their support and for dragging me from my computer and reminding me
there is life outside of fiction!
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The Barrier Reef
Jackie Bannon
