When water temperatures rise above a certain threshold, corals expel the symbiotic algae that live in their tissues and provide them with food and energy. This process, known as bleaching, can lead to the death of the coral if the stress is prolonged.

Ocean acidification reduces the availability of carbonate ions in the water, which are essential for corals to build their skeletons. This can lead to weaker and more fragile corals that are more susceptible to damage.

Climate change is causing the ocean to absorb more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which leads to ocean acidification. Ocean acidification is a major threat to coral reefs, as it makes it more difficult for corals to build their skeletons.

Coral reefs provide habitat for a wide variety of marine life, including fish, mollusks, and crustaceans. They also help to protect coastlines from erosion and storm damage. When coral reefs are degraded, all of these benefits are lost.

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is the most important thing we can do to protect coral reefs from climate change. We can also implement marine protected areas to help coral reefs recover from bleaching events and restore degraded coral reefs through active interventions.