What does acidification mean for our coral reefs?

Climate Change is predicted to affect the oceans’ coral reefs in many ways. As atmospheric CO2 keeps rising, together with other greenhouse gases, the temperature of our planet and our oceans will rise as well. This affects all living things, including coral reefs which suffer from a bleaching processes when temperatures change drastically. However, Climate Change brings far more consequences to our planet than just changes in temperature. 

One of these consequences is the fall of the ocean water pH level —also called ocean acidification— which greatly affects the health of coral reefs. 

When the ocean becomes more acidic, it extracts the calcium molecules from the corals, causing their structures to become weaker and grow slower, becoming more vulnerable to other environmental stresses they will face, such as changes in water temperature. 

“Climate Change brings far more consequences to our planet than just changes in temperature” 

In Costa Rica, we have many important coral reef formations which have already suffered massively from bleaching events, and without a doubt, scientist can assure us that these critical ecosystems are not escaping the effects of ocean acidification. 

Joan Kleypas’ recent in-depth review on these complex global changes, contributes to better predict the effects of Climate Change and recommend adaptation strategies to protect the coral reefs. Learn more on this topic and current research in the latest issue of Cuadernos de Investigación UNED here: Kleypas Coral Reefs

Written by: Elena Vargas Fonseca