Study expects to eliminate coral reefs by 2100

Abdul Hakim Mahmoud

According to a new scientific study by the University of Hawaii at Manoa presented at the Oceanography 2020 conference, rising sea surface temperatures and ocean acidification that serve to whitewash coral reefs could lead to the elimination of 70% to 90% of coral reefs over the next twenty years.

The impact of climate change on the oceans may extend to the elimination of all coral reefs by the year 2100.

On the other hand, the study indicated that restoration projects to protect coral reefs will likely face serious challenges, including the massive formation of coral reefs known as the Great Coral Reef in Australia, which is 2253 km long.

Climate change impacts
Coral reefs are home to many marine creatures, and are essential to the diversity and survival of marine life, but scientists say coral reefs are exposed to bleaching, with high temperatures in the oceans, where warm water leads to pressure on coral reefs, which leads to the release of algae that live inside .

This causes coral reefs to turn from bright color to white, which is known as coral bleaching, as these bleached coral reefs are at risk of death.

The climatic effects of coral reefs have led researchers to study the dimensions of this phenomenon, and by relying on simulating the oceans in which coral reefs are located.

Based on sea surface temperature forecasts, ocean acidification, wave energy, pollution, and fishing practices, the science team from the University of Hawaii at Manoa headed by Rene Ceter, a biogeologist, conducted the study on coral reef habitats.

By examining and analyzing data related to sea and other temperature projections, the researchers found that most coral reefs would not be suitable habitats by 2045 and would get worse by 2100.

The results of the study indicated that some sites in the seas and oceans will remain viable habitats for coral reefs in the year 2100, which are small portions of the Baja seas in California and the Red Sea in East Africa.

Combating climate change

According to the new study, despite the pollution that poses many threats to marine organisms, coral reefs are more vulnerable to climate change, which requires efforts that go beyond combating beach pollution.

"Trying to clean the beaches is great and trying to fight pollution is great and we need to continue these efforts, but ultimately, fighting climate change is really what we need in order to protect coral reefs and avoid complex pressures," Sitter said.

"Citizens can try to reduce the amount of pressures on the marine environment in order to prevent coral reef degradation, by reducing carbon emissions and through renewable energy sources, eliminating local pollution and reducing overfishing," Sitter added.

Promising scientific developments
In the context of scientific and environmental efforts and research aimed at protecting coral reefs, there are wonderful projects and ideas, including trying to plant live coral reefs in the laboratory and transfer them to the ocean, as this would enhance coral recovery and return it to health.

However, according to the University of Hawaii Manoa study, these cultivated coral reefs often face some failures due to poor planning and poor selection of transport sites for coral grown in the laboratory.

Other coral relief efforts have included playing sounds in the natural environments of healthy coral reefs through loudspeakers to attract small fish from the affected areas.