Two factors that are negatively affecting coral reefs due to climate change are:
1. Rising ocean temperatures: Climate change has caused an increase in ocean temperatures due to the trapping of heat by greenhouse gases. Warmer water temperatures stress the coral, leading to bleaching events. When corals experience prolonged stress from high temperatures, they expel the symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) that provide them with food and color. This bleaching makes the corals more susceptible to disease and can eventually lead to their death.
2. Ocean acidification: As carbon dioxide (CO2) levels increase in the atmosphere, a portion of it is absorbed by the oceans. This leads to a decrease in pH and an increase in acidity in the water, a process known as ocean acidification. Acidic conditions hinder the ability of corals to build and maintain their calcium carbonate skeleton, which is essential for their growth and survival. Increased acidity can also affect other marine organisms that depend on coral reefs for habitat and food.
What two factors are negatively affecting coral reef due to climate change
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