Coral reefs are in a race for survival
Risk M, Glynn P, Cortez J. 1985. Coral reefs are in a race for survival. Geotimes. :13-14
(From Introduction) Crime scene: Eastern Pacific Time of death: December 1982 Weapon: Warm sea water Accused: El Nino Investigators: Michael Risk, Peter Glynn and Jorge Cortez Victim: More than 3,000 km of coral reefs In December 1982 warm sea currents known as El Nino swept south through the eastern Pacific coral reefs, from Baja California, Mexico, to Colombia. The currents raised water temperature from the usual 20° to 25°C to 32°. Within a couple of days the reefs were bleached a skeletal white. After another week, the coral was dead.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Risk, Michael; Glynn, Peter; Cortez, Jorge
- Units
- BUIS
- Keywords
- Bleaching, Coral Reefs, Ecology, El Nino, Sedimentology, Species Composition, Survival