Introduction
Location Map
Base Map
Database Schema
Conventions
GIS Analyses
Flowchart
GIS Concepts
Results
Conclusion
References

Effects of Climate Change on Coral Bleaching

Over the past 100 years, sea surface temperatures have risen by 1-2 degrees C and are likely to continue to rise in the future (Guldberg, 2008).
If the temperature rises above the normal thermal limit the zooxanthallae algae expel out of the coral polyps causing the corals to bleach. As these algae govern the health of the corals by imparting symbiosis and color to the corals, it is essential to safeguard these photosynthetic organisms. These algae are unable to survive the stressed water temperatures causing the bleaching of corals.

This fragile relationship breaks frequently during summer due to a natural rise in the sea surface temperature causing coral bleaching because of the expulsion of the Zooxanthallae (Bruno and McGinley, 2008).

Above: Healthy Coral (Photo Credit: BBC)

Above: Bleached Coral (Photo Credit: Ecotalk 12’s Blog)