Climate change is in effect and impacting the coral reefs currently. As temperatures keep rising, the damage to coral reefs will be nonreversible. We as humans are responsible for every damage we have done to the Earth. There are many different ways that climate change is caused. Burning fossil fuels for heat and energy is one cause. Other causes consist of producing industrial products, raising farm animals such as cows, deforestation, and fertilization of crops. It is estimated that around 70 percent of the Earth is made up of water and most of the oceans remain unexplored.
Sea level rise is an impact that climate change has on the oceans. When sea levels rise, this impacts lands and causes erosion, flooding, and health problems. Changes in storm patterns become stronger and more frequent and can disrupt strongly the sea environment. Ocean acidification is the reduction of pH levels which leads to damaging coral reefs. The coral reefs lose color when pH is acidic and die off. This is a process called coral bleaching. Other disease outbreaks are frequent as well due to temperature rising.
Coral reefs serve as natural habitats to a large variety of sea species. The increase of temperatures leads to damaging coral reefs and this leads to food chains being broken off. Phytoplanktons are primary producers and are at the bottom of the food chains. As Phtytoplanktons die off, this will have a high impact on other sea species, since these species depend on each other to live.
Written by Candida Villalta
REFERENCES:
Creary, Marcia. “Impacts of Climate Change on Coral Reefs and the Marine Environment.” United Nations, United Nations, www.un.org/en/chronicle/article/impacts-climate-change-coral-reefs-and-marine-environment. Accessed 4 July 2020.
“Infographic: How Does Climate Change Affect Coral Reefs?” National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, www.noaa.gov/multimedia/infographic/infographic-how-does-climate-change-affect-coral-reefs. Accessed 4 July 2020.
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