What is coral bleaching?
One of the most visually dramatic effects of climate change on corals has been bleaching. When the ocean warms, the oxygen content reduces, and corals become ‘bleached’.
The heat affects the tiny algae which live symbiotically inside the corals and supply them with food. The heat stress damages the algae and in consequence leads to coral death.
Global warming could now mean a death sentence for many coral reefs. If the present rate of destruction continues, most of the world's coral reefs could be killed within our lifetime.