Ideas and perspectives: Southwestern tropical Atlantic coral growth response to atmospheric circulation changes induced by ozone depletion in Antarctica

Abstract

Abstract. Recent Southern Hemisphere (SH) atmospheric circulation, predominantly driven by stratospheric ozone depletion over Antarctica, has caused changes in climate across the extratropics. Here, we present evidence that the Brazilian coast (southwestern Atlantic) may have been impacted from both wind and sea-surface temperature changes derived from this process. Skeleton analysis of massive coral species living in shallow waters off Brazil are very sensitive to air-sea interactions, and seem to record this impact. Growth rates of Brazilian corals show a trend reversal that fits the ozone depletion evolution, confirming that ozone impacts are far reaching and potentially affect coastal ecosystems in tropical environments.

The interactive effects of stratospheric ozone depletion, UV radiation, and climate change on aquatic ecosystems

“…109,169 Declines in growth rates in Brazilian corals since the 1970s have also been linked to increasing sea surface temperatures, which were correlated with stratospheric ozone depletion over Antarctica. 65 These findings indicate that there are widespread and far-reaching effects of climate change driven by stratospheric ozone-on marine 1 as well as terrestrial 180 (see also Chapter 3) ecosystems across the southern hemisphere. 162…”

Environmental effects of ozone depletion and its interactions with climate change: Progress report, 2016

“…205 Declines in growth rates in Brazilian corals since the 1970s have been linked to increasing temperatures of the sea surface, which were correlated with ozone depletion. 206…”