The Great Barrier Reef: An Account On How Global Warming Destroys One Of The Biggest Marine Culture

We all have heard and seen coral reefs and their fantastic beauty. But has anyone of us know that this fantastic marine culture is dying due to us? Even if you know, as anyone taking any measures in their individual lives to save it from such a catastrophe? The questions are endless.

There are lots of corals in the ocean, but the most important one among them is the Great Barrier Reef, present in Australia. The Great Barrier Reef, the world's biggest coral reef, is present in the Pacific ocean along the coast of Queensland, Australia, stretching about 2000 kilometers. It is said that it's seen even from space. It consists of 3000 individual reefs in several shapes and colors, which provides a home to a variety of species from common to rare. The Great Barrier Reef is home to clownfishes, sharks, whales, giant clams, along with sea cows, a species on the verge of extinction, and the biggest spot for seven and more turtle species. These all prove what a brilliant culture is the Great Barrier Reef.

However, this marine wonder is in extreme jeopardy - Global Warming. Global warming is actually the daughter of man and industry. Since the 19th century, it had started numerous disasterous projects all over Earth. The ocean level rise due to thermal expansion and melting of ice caps, the ozone layer depletion, ocean acidification, and all are parts of Global warming. Since the worst of the species, humans,(Yes, it is ourselves.) never altered their policies, Global warming has grown to a catastrophic reality. The carbon emissions of industries are the major factor that leads to global warming. This in turn destroys the corals, the marvelous marine ecosystem.

How do Corals Form?

When the free-swimming coral larvae attach to hard surfaces or submerged rocks, which are seen along the edges of the islands and continents, coral reefs begin to form. When these corals develop and expand, reefs take three major characteristic structures such as fringing, barrier, or atoll.

How Are Corals Destroyed?

High temperatures in the ocean are the main cause of coral bleaching. Whenever the water gets heated above a limit, the corals will expel the algae called zooxanthellae, which live in their tissues. This results in the whitening of corals.

The corals are also destroyed due to extremely low tides, severe sunlight, and so on. But the major reason is global warming itself.

What Happens To The Bleached Corals?

When the zooxanthellae, a photosynthetic that provides color to the corals are expelled, the corals actually lose their stability. Zooxanthellae actually sustain the corals by providing food instead of a shelter. When they are expelled it causes the destruction of both.

The bleached corals are vulnerable to diseases, which stunt their growth and result in low reproduction. This is indeed equal to their destruction.

Remember, corals also have life and they are just like all animals. They do have food and excrete like all of us.

What Does The Destruction Of Corals Result?

Corals cover only 0.0025 percent of the ocean. But they do more services than any other species. When corals are destructed there are a couple of things to consider.

➣ They release half of the oxygen on Earth by absorbing one-third of carbon dioxide. So we can imagine how harmful it will be to humans if corals are destroyed as the amount of Carbon Dioxide will increase in the atmosphere. Without corals, the ocean won't be able to absorb more quantities of Oxygen.

➣ Destruction of corals will certainly affect the growth of native fishes and as well as a variety of species. We need to consider that the entire food chain will pay for it. The destruction of fishes will lead to the fish communities and as well as human communities finding new resources for food and well-being.

➣ The lack of ocean resources related to corals will disappear. This will lead the world to unemployment for billions of people, which makes them run out of income.

A Final Word

To regain the corals is simple today if we decrease our carbon emissions right now. But if we can't, it will certainly take more risk and time. There was some good news that the coral reefs were regaining their state to a small portion when the Covid pandemic had driven us to our homes. But the situation had already changed as the industries had been opened and our carbon emissions will be very high than ever. So if we wanna save the Earth from it, we should start the processes now. Or else, it will be too late to get the past glory of corals.