SOUTHERN WINDS

Can Coral Reefs Beat the Heat? A New Study Offers a Surprising Answer

A smarter model reveals where coral reefs stand a chance against climate change

Image created by author with CANVA

For years, the story of coral reefs and climate change has sounded like a slow-motion disaster. Rising ocean temperatures trigger mass bleaching events, leaving once-thriving reefs looking like underwater ghost towns.

(and colleagues) have warned that unless drastic action is taken, coral reefs could vanish within decades. However, published in offers a slightly different perspective.

By using a more sophisticated model that incorporates a range of environmental factors, researchers have identified reefs in the Western Indian Ocean that may be more resilient than previously thought.

This isn’t to say corals are out of danger; in fact, far from it. However, the findings challenge some more catastrophic predictions and highlight areas where conservation efforts could have the most impact.

will affect coral reef ecosystems, through , changes to the frequency and intensity of tropical storms, and altered ocean circulation patterns. When combined, all of these impacts dramatically alter ecosystem function, as well as the goods and services coral reef ecosystems provide — NOAA: National Ocean Service —

A Smarter Way to Predict Coral Survival