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Hydrosphere Coral Bleaching
Although coral can recover after a bleaching episode, the coral often die after bleaching. The causes of bleaching are uncertain, but they seem to be related to other events occurring in the Earth system. El Nino, which results in warmer than normal ocean temperatures, appears to be a major factor. Global warming and increased ultraviolet radiation because of ozone depletion have also been investigated as possible causes or contributing factors to coral bleaching. Major bleaching events occurred in 1982-1983, 1987, and 1995-1996. The 1995-1996 event began in the western Caribbean and then spread to the west and central Pacific in 1996. The 1982-1983 and 1987 events coincided with El Ninos. According to testimony before the U.S. Senate in 1991, short-term warming events caused the major bleaching. A warming of 1 degree to 2 degrees C appears enough to stress the coral and result in bleaching. Apparently, as in the case of one Mediterranean coral, increased water temperature can lower the coral's resistance to bacterial infections. One encouraging factor is that when temperatures return to normal, the zooxanthellae return to the coral. Coral reefs also require the ocean water to have low levels of nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorous and certain levels of salinity (salt) and carbonate (ions made of carbon and oxygen). Some scientists fear that increased carbon dioxide dissolved in the ocean removes the carbonate. That makes less available for the coral to produce limestonethe basic building block of coral reefs. Carbon dioxide forms a weak acid in water that holds the carbonate ions, preventing the coral from using them. Anthrosphere | Atmosphere | Biosphere | Hydrosphere | Lithosphere Glossary ..|.. Related Links ..|.. References |..PBL Model Home ..|.. Teacher Pages ..|.. Modules & Activities |
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