How Does Global Warming Affect Coral Reefs

As time progresses, climate change continues to grow and negatively affect the world that we live in. The planet’s climate is constantly alternating but is currently unstable and compared to the past, the current warming is rapidly increasing. Due to climate change, there in an increased amount of carbon dioxide that is released into the atmosphere which causes the oceans to become more acidic. The growing process of acidification can cause major problems for the world’s coral reefs by preventing corals from developing a calcified skeleton, which is crucial for their survival. Climate change causes water temperature to warm up which cause stress on corals since they are sensitive to temperature change. If water temperatures are higher than

Coral bleaching threaten coral reef habitats worldwide and cause a high deterioration of local biodiversity. As time progresses and global warming continues, it is expected that bleaching will worsen. However, it is unpredictable what will specifically happen. As temperatures rise, bleaching events are now expected to last longer than the average pace. Conservation biology and environmental science journal, Global Change Biology, discovered that “under the RCP8.5 climate change scenario, the global suitability for coral reefs may increase up to sixteen percent by 2100...In contrast, in its current range, coral reef suitability may decrease up to forty-six percent by 2100” (Forecasted Coral Reefs, 2479). Coral reefs are home to over a million species. However the declining number of coral reefs may lead to its extinction, considering the immense number of species that confide in coral as their habitat. These reefs are the foundation for a variety of fish species that rely on corals. However they are amongst the most vulnerable to climate change. Not only do corals provide shelter but also, corals serve as a food source for marine animals. Various species rely on coral reefs as a feeding ground but with the reefs dying, species are losing their source of food. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) label

It is thought that rising sea levels will lead to some reefs to drop below their ideal water level. If the depth is too deep, the amount of sunlight reaching the corals is narrowed down making it challenging for the coral’s algae to photosynthesize. The corals’ skeletal density risk reduction making the corals weaker and vulnerable to storms. Healthy coral reefs are able to tolerate sea level transitions but on the other hand, weakened reefs are not as capable to high sea level. Climate change is now causing severe weather events to occur more frequently than before affecting coral reefs. In coastal area, the resistance for corals are weakened leaving corals vulnerable to storms. A single storm can wipe out a whole colony but the corals do not heal fast enough than needed. Waves from hurricanes typically break apart corals causing damage that may not heal. Shallow tides threaten reefs by exposing corals to the sun during the day time causing corals to dry out and are at risk of being destroyed by storms. As the weather worsens and the corals’ natural protections are exposing, corals are threatened compared to