Ocean Heat Wave Bleaches World's Coral Reefs
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Next StepsThe next steps we can do to prevent the bleaching of coral reefs would be to try and stop the rising climate. This would include everything that relates to the solution to ocean acidification. Our main goal should try and be to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions that are raising the climate of the earth. This will not only stop the climate from rising but this can also stop carbon dioxide from going down to our ocean rising the acidity of the ocean. According to the article, other countries can help reducing the stress that is being put on the coral reefs. These solutions include reducing over-fishing and pollution.
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SummaryCoral reefs have been going through an underwater heatwave this year. This has been the third time this has happened and it includes a warm patch within the Pacific that is known as "The Blob". This climate is estimated to kill more than 4,600 square miles of reefs which is about five percent of the total amount of coral reefs around the world. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), similar damage had happened back in 1998 and in 2010 which were extremely warm years. Coral reefs eject this algae when under stress and this bleaches the reefs. Some corals are able to recover from the temperature fall but many of them die from being whitened for too long. The mass of warm water call "The Blob" has been a factor that has been harming the corals. According to Richard Vevers, "'The last two events have gone virtually unnoticed" in 2010 and 1998. Scientists are still studying the mystery of "The Blob" to see if it actually is related to the climate change.
ReflectionOne of the main reasons why I chose this article is because it relates to the many of the things we are learning in class. It seems like ocean acidification does not only affect the coral but the increasing climate as well. This can also be tied in with ocean acidification because the carbon dioxide emissions that are effecting the oceans are also affecting the climate. I was very interested in the article because I was aware that the high temperature kills corals but I was not aware that they would turn white when they started to die. It was also interesting to read about "The Blob" that is located in the Pacific since we live near the coast. I was also interested in "The Blob" being a mystery whether this even affects the coral at all.
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