Coral Reefs Under Pressure from Climate Warming
New scientific studies reveal that coral reefs are facing severe pressure from global warming, while ocean acidification poses a threat to marine life.
Warm-water coral reefs have crossed a tipping point due to global heating and are dying at an accelerated rate, impacting hundreds of millions of people who rely on them for fishing, tourism, and protection from rising seas and storm surges.
Global average temperatures are about 1.3-1.4C above pre-industrial times, which is higher than coral reefs can withstand.
Their thermal tipping point is estimated to be 1.2C of warming. If the trend is not reversed, coral reefs around the world will be lost, warned the second Global Tipping Points report.
The report was released on Monday and produced by more than 160 scientists in 23 countries, led by the Global Systems Institute at the UK’s University of Exeter.
Author's summary: Coral reefs are dying due to climate warming.