Coral Bleaching: Causes & Effects

Causes of Coral Bleaching

• Elevated Sea Temperature: Corals thrive in warm waters but are sensitive to slight temperature increases. Events like El Nino and marine heatwaves raise sea temperatures, causing significant harm to coral reefs.
• Extreme Low Tides: Occasional extreme low tides expose corals to harmful solar and ultraviolet radiation, leading to coral bleaching.
• Ocean Acidification: Increased carbon dioxide levels raise ocean acidity, hindering corals' ability to form essential calcareous skeletons, vital for their survival.
• Disease Threats: Bacteria like vibrio shiloi thrive at higher sea temperatures, inhibiting zooxanthellae's photosynthesis and impacting coral health.
• Ocean Pollution: Rising nutrient concentrations foster excessive phytoplankton growth, attracting ....