As you know, the rising ocean temperatures are causing coral to go over their maximum heat capacities. This sudden change in temperature, even though it is only a degree or two, is causing the coral to become bleached. This means that the coral is being forced to shed their food processing algae. They are starving, drying out, and therefore, turning bone white. One the coral gets to a several bleached state, the process cannot be undone. We need to stop the bleaching process before it gets out of control. Seventy percent of the coral reef destruction was from coral bleaching. Of the causes for the destruction, many of them are out of our control. We cannot stop global warming fast enough to make a difference, we do not know the specific diseases that are killing coral, and it is very difficult to stop other humans from killing animals using the coral reefs for homes. Very few people know about the growing problems arising in the coral reefs so we need to spread the word. Many people view this emerging problem as a joke and it is definitely no joke. It is our fault that these reefs are being destroyed, so it is up to us to fix it. We have to take into consideration that if we do not act soon, we will suffer far more in the long run.
Resources used...
nationalgeographic.com
nytimes.com
Coral Reefs
This is the first photograph even taken of bleached coral. It was taken by Thomas F. Goreau in 1962 in Jamaica.
3 comments:
I especially like this post. It shows your passion toward saving the coral! I really hope that they do not loose their beautiful colors due to the bleaching, but great job proving your point on specifically why global warming is an issue.
What do you suggest we do? Can we do anything other than "spread the word"?
Kyle, so even though we cannot stop global warming, we can save the coral? Do you think that awareness is the best way?
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