
Dying Reefs Bigger Threat to Coasts Than Rising Seas, Study Says
If coral reefs continue to degrade, waves on coastlines may substantially increase, leading to greater coastal erosion.
If coral reefs continue to degrade, waves on coastlines may substantially increase, leading to greater coastal erosion.
With coral bleaching spreading, a new project and app called Bleach Patrol is putting surfers, divers and snorkelers to work as citizen scientists, keeping an eye on the world’s coral reefs.
We are losing coral reefs at an alarming rate and scientists believe that with business as usual they will likely be gone by the end of the century. However, better local management, coupled with new research on coral reef resilience and adaptability, may help buy some time for these indispensable ecosystems.
Corals are already facing a host of stressors—from pollution and overfishing to tourism and coastal development—but climate change puts corals at risk from rising temperatures and ocean acidification. The decline of coral reefs will have devastating consequences for the ocean, and for us.