Espinoza, P., Donner, S. (2023, October 12). How Clouds Protect Coral Reefs, But Will Not Be Enough to Save Them From Us. The Conversation. Retrieved January 20, 2024, from https://theconversation.com/how-clouds-protect-coral-reefs-but-will-not-be-enough-to-save-them-from-us-211088

Climate change is causing the ocean to warm rapidly, and as a result, coral reefs are in danger. Coral bleaching occurs when the coral releases microalgae, which exposes its white skeleton, making it “bleached.” While coral reefs can recover with time, they cannot recover quick enough, and these reefs are essential for coastal life and biodiversity. Increased cloudiness can provide temporary relief by slowing bleaching conditions. This is because less sun gets to these reefs, and the temperature of the water does not heat as much. However, over 70% of reefs still experience frequent bleaching, so it is very important that we find some other solutions to cool down the ocean, and not further the bleaching of the reefs.

This article relates to environmental science because it is just one of the many possible solutions to try to help reverse the damage done by climate change. Although this “solution” has not made much of an impact because clouds have always been around, it still highlights the importance of actively thinking of ideas to reverse the damage done. Coral bleaching is a visible hint of the warming ocean. I think that climate change and temperature is harming coral reefs and all the life that depends on those reefs as well. There is an urgency for different research and solutions to address coral reef degradation, and I think we need to continue creating these ideas.