Coral reefs are located all around the world and make up a goo portion of this earths underwater sanctuaries for millions of organisms. One coral reef has hundreds of ecosystems that are home to some of the most beautiful creatures. Creatures that believe it or not have human value. Not only are they a human value because of their aesthetic reasons that produce economic benefits for many nations, but the fact that many of the ocean animals we eat thrive off the bountiful ecosystems of a coral reef. These reefs also protect coastal areas from incoming waves that could potentially erode away at shorelines, but also provide many medicinal benefits.

There are numerous reasons for the degradation to our coral reefs. Pollution run off from inland water ways, coastal development, overfishing, and global climate which leads to oceanic acidification, are all combatants to the survival of our reefs. For purposes of this blog, lets examine the affects of global warming on these ocean beauties.

Global warming has lead to the bleaching of coral reefs, ever-increasing CO2 percentages that exist in the oceans, and diseases and plagues to the coral reefs due to direct human disturbances. According to the 2004 edition of “Status of Coral Reefs Around the World”, coral bleaching and death rate of reefs is the number one emerging threat caused by global warming factors.  Coral bleaching is caused by the elevation in sea temperatures and results in white dead looking coral that increases the chances of mortality. Scientists believe that 20 percent of reefs could be eliminated completely by 2020. in 1998 almost all species of coral were negatively affected by increased water temperatures and El- Nino.  According to Green Peace, if global climate change does not slow coral bleaching will intensify and steadily increase between 2030 and 2070. They say that coral bleaching will devastated these ecosystems so badly that they could even be eliminated from most places around the world by 2100.  Could you imagine going scuba diving int he great barrier reef only to see that everything has perished. An Australian agency in charge of looking after the Great Barrier reef reported that despite it being one of the healthiest reefs in the world, since European settlement, an increase in illegal poaching and inland water run off into coastal waters has seriously damaged the reef and could possibly take over 100 years to fully recover, and thats only in perfect conditions. Being an avid diver, this issue is definitely worth a second look.

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