Global warming is sounding the death knell for corals worldwide

#coralbleaching #climatechange #globalwarming #ElNino Corals worldwide are on their death bed because they are at grave risk from a major episode of bleaching. The reefs lose color due to this bleaching and scientists have confirmed that this has already hit the reefs in the Pacific, Atlantic and Caribbean. As per data from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), bleaching may affect over 38% of the world's reefs, and destroy over 12,000 sq km of reefs.
This has been reported in bbc.com dated 8 October 2015.

The mass bleaching is apparently a result of the rising water temperatures because of two natural warm currents and exacerbated by man-made climate change. The phenomenon occurs when corals under stress drive out the algae known as zooxanthellae that give them color.
If and when normal conditions return, the corals can recover – the reversal process can take decades, and if the stress continues, the corals can perish. They are also under multiple threats from pollution, over-fishing, sedimentation and damage from boats and tourism.
The global warming due to the warming Pacific current, El Nino, coupled with rise in water temperatures by the Pacific Blob have aggravated the situation. Along with this, man-made climate change also contributes because the oceans are absorbing about 93% of the increase in the earth's heat.
Another threat for the corals is ocean acidification as CO2 emissions get absorbed into the oceans. This causes change of the pH of seawater.
Incidentally, coral reefs are the breeding ground for tropical fisheries apart from providing shelter from the waves for tropical islands and also bring invaluable tourist income.
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

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