Rising temperatures associated with climate change have already been shown to have an effect on a wide range of ecosystems and the creatures that reside within. Recent studies have now added coral reefs to the list of ecosystems that may be damaged as a result of climate change. Judging from new maps and models, the rising sea temperatures, which accompany climate change, could result in more frequent coral bleaching events, causing them to occur as often as once every year. Researchers have used different emissions scenarios to predict how prevalent these bleaching events will be on coral reefs around the world. A recent published study has now found 74 percent of the world’s coral reefs will begin experiencing annual bleaching events by 2045 if emissions rates remain unchanged.
Read more here: http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1112791098/coral-reef-bleaching-climate-change-022513/
{tortags,6221,1}