{"id":1063,"date":"2021-08-09T06:52:08","date_gmt":"2021-08-09T13:52:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coral.org\/?page_id=1063"},"modified":"2021-09-09T11:49:23","modified_gmt":"2021-09-09T18:49:23","slug":"global-threats","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/coral-reefs-101\/global-threats\/","title":{"rendered":"Global Threats"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"hero-section alignfull wp-block-coral-hero\" role=\"banner\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"800\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/static.coral.org\/uploads\/2021\/09\/coral-reef-alliance-placeholder.png\" class=\"hero-background\" alt=\"\" loading=\"eager\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.coral.org\/uploads\/2021\/09\/coral-reef-alliance-placeholder.png 800w, https:\/\/static.coral.org\/uploads\/2021\/09\/coral-reef-alliance-placeholder-796x796.png 796w, https:\/\/static.coral.org\/uploads\/2021\/09\/coral-reef-alliance-placeholder-500x500.png 500w, https:\/\/static.coral.org\/uploads\/2021\/09\/coral-reef-alliance-placeholder-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/static.coral.org\/uploads\/2021\/09\/coral-reef-alliance-placeholder-600x600.png 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\n\t<div class=\"hero-section__inner-container\">\n\t\t\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center hero-subtitle\">Coral Reefs 101<\/p>\n\n<h1 class=\"has-text-align-center hero-title wp-block-post-title\">Global Threats<\/h1>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns coral-reefs-101-container is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-14cf5ab5 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:320px\"><nav style=\"font-size:15px;font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\"wp-block-coral-classic-menu-1 has-active-indicator has-submenu-indent coral-101-menu wp-block-coral-classic-menu\" aria-label=\"Coral Reefs 101 Sidebar\">\n\t<ul id=\"menu-coral-reefs-101-sidebar\" class=\"menu\"><li id=\"menu-item-1513\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children menu-item-1513\"><a href=\"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/coral-reefs-101\/\">Coral Reef Ecology<\/a>\n<ul class=\"sub-menu\">\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-1514\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-1514\"><a href=\"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/coral-reefs-101\/coral-polyps\/\">Coral Polyps<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-1518\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-1518\"><a href=\"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/coral-reefs-101\/hard-corals\/\">Hard Corals<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-1522\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-1522\"><a href=\"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/coral-reefs-101\/soft-corals\/\">Soft Corals<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-1521\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-1521\"><a href=\"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/coral-reefs-101\/how-reefs-are-made\/\">How Reefs Are Made<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-2193\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2193\"><a href=\"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/coral-reefs-101\/what-do-corals-reefs-need-to-survive\/\">What Do Corals Reefs Need to Survive?<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-2194\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2194\"><a href=\"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/coral-reefs-101\/geography\/\">Where Are Coral Reefs Located?<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-1519\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-1519\"><a href=\"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/coral-reefs-101\/how-coral-reefs-grow\/\">How Coral Reefs Grow<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-1520\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-1520\"><a href=\"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/coral-reefs-101\/how-corals-reproduce\/\">How Corals Reproduce<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-2195\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2195\"><a href=\"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/coral-reefs-101\/types-of-coral-reef-formations\/\">Types of Coral Reef Formations<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-2205\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children menu-item-2205\"><a href=\"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/coral-reefs-101\/reef-threats\/\">Reef Threats<\/a>\n<ul class=\"sub-menu\">\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-1517\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-1517\"><a href=\"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/coral-reefs-101\/global-threats\/\">Global<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-1516\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-1516\"><a href=\"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/coral-reefs-101\/direct-threats\/\">Direct<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-2203\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children menu-item-2203\"><a href=\"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/coral-reefs-101\/why-care-about-reefs\/\">Why Care About Reefs?<\/a>\n<ul class=\"sub-menu\">\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-2201\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2201\"><a href=\"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/coral-reefs-101\/why-care-about-reefs\/biodiversity\/\">Biodiversity<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-2200\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2200\"><a href=\"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/coral-reefs-101\/why-care-about-reefs\/coastal-protection\/\">Coastal Protection<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-2199\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2199\"><a href=\"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/coral-reefs-101\/why-care-about-reefs\/food\/\">Food<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-2198\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2198\"><a href=\"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/coral-reefs-101\/why-care-about-reefs\/medicine\/\">Medicine<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-2197\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2197\"><a href=\"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/coral-reefs-101\/why-care-about-reefs\/tourism\/\">Tourism<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-2361\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2361\"><a href=\"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/how-can-you-help\/\">How Can You Help?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/nav>\n<\/div><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Warming Temperatures and Coral Bleaching<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-normal-font-size\">Some scientists predict that 90% of global reefs will experience severe bleaching annually by 2055.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-normal-font-size\">Most corals have a narrow temperature tolerance. When temperatures become too warm, corals will expel the symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) that live inside them causing them to turn white and lose an important food source. Although corals can survive a bleaching event, they are more vulnerable to disease and will eventually die if the marine heatwave lasts too long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button wp-block-button-2\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-blue-background-color has-background\" href=\"#\">But There Is Hope<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sea Level Rise<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-normal-font-size\">200 million people in coastal communities could be displaced if coral growth does not keep up with sea level rise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-normal-font-size\">Corals are predicted to end up in deeper water, which means they will receive less sunlight (vital for their food source) and grow more slowly. As shorelines erode, corals may also be more affected by polluted runoff and sedimentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Stronger Storms<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-normal-font-size\">200 million people depend on coral reefs to protect them from storm surges and waves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-normal-font-size\">As sea surface temperatures rise, hurricanes, cyclones, and typhoons that damage coral reefs become stronger. Heavy rainfall from the storms can also erode coastal lands and bring more polluted runoff into the ocean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ocean Acidification<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-normal-font-size\">48% of fossil fuel emissions are absorbed by the ocean. As oceans absorb carbon dioxide (CO2), they become more acidic. This affects the ability of reef-building corals to grow their skeletons and form the foundation for coral reefs. Weaker skeletons also make corals more vulnerable to disease and destruction by storms. In fact, research shows that when exposed to high levels of CO2, corals stop being productive and their risk of bleaching increases by up to 50%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"498\" fetchpriority=\"low\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/coral.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Website_CoralThreats_Header_Global-768x498-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2213\"\/><figcaption>A panoramic image of fluorescing corals in New Caledonia; photo by The Ocean Agency \/ XL Catlin Seaview Survey.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Warming Temperatures and Coral Bleaching Some scientists predict that 90% of global reefs will experience severe bleaching annually by 2055. Most corals have a narrow temperature tolerance. When temperatures become too warm, corals will expel the symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) that live inside them causing them to turn white and lose an important food source. Although [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3929,"parent":93,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"coral_transparent_header":false,"coral_hide_siblings_nav":true,"coral_hide_flyout":false,"coral_hide_title":false,"coral_no_footer_gap":false,"coral_subtitle":"","coral_subheading":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1063","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1063","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1063"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1063\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/93"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3929"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1063"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}