The oceans have become increasingly acidic in recent years as the water absorbs more and more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This increased acidity interferes with the ability of corals to maintain their skeletons. In addition, an increase in water temperatures worldwide is causing coral bleaching, another condition that threatens the health of coral reefs. Based on this information, which of the following would most improve the health of coral reefs?(1 point)

Question

The oceans have become increasingly acidic in recent years as the water absorbs more and more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This increased acidity interferes with the ability of corals to maintain their skeletons. In addition, an increase in water temperatures worldwide is causing coral bleaching, another condition that threatens the health of coral reefs. Based on this information, which of the following would most improve the health of coral reefs?(1 point)
Responses

replacing offshore oil drills with onshore oil drills
replacing offshore oil drills with onshore oil drills

reducing the use of fossil fuels
reducing the use of fossil fuels

removing more natural gas embedded in rocks
removing more natural gas embedded in rocks

eliminating nuclear power plants

GPT-4o mini · Answer

To most improve the health of coral reefs, the best option would be **reducing the use of fossil fuels**. This action would help decrease the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere, which in turn would lead to lower levels of CO2 absorption by oceans, thereby reducing ocean acidification. Additionally, it could help mitigate global warming, which is responsible for increasing water temperatures and causing coral bleaching.