Coral Bleaching
In Coral Bleaching, witness the effects of global warming on coral ecosystems. The world’s oceans are warming due to climate change, which negatively affects coral reefs, home to about a quarter of all ocean life. Coral is highly sensitive to temperature changes, and as ocean temperatures rise, coral bleaching becomes more extreme. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Climate Change — The Facts, a documentary that delves into the science of climate change and its far-reaching consequences.
Lesson Express
Q: What is coral bleaching, and how is it linked to climate change?
A: Coral bleaching occurs when corals expel the algae that give them their color due to stress from temperature changes. This is linked to climate change because rising ocean temperatures cause this stress.
Q: Why are coral reefs so important to marine life?
A: Coral reefs are home to about a quarter of all ocean species, providing shelter, food, and breeding grounds for many marine creatures.
Q: What happens to coral reefs when they bleach?
A: When coral reefs bleach, they lose their color and can die if the stress continues, disrupting the ecosystems that depend on them.
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