Climate Change Will Lead to Deformed and Virus-Hit Coral Reefs
Coral will become deformed and increasingly fall victim to outbreaks of herpes-like viruses as humans continue to pump carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, according to two new studies.
Combined, the two effects suggest coral reefs will have trouble recovering from bleaching events, like the the world is currently experiencing.
When carbon dioxide is emitted from factories, cars and power plants, about 30% of it is absorbed by the ocean. As that happens, the acidity of the oceans increases, which makes it harder for corals to build their alkaline skeletons.
Mathias Chabal