Coral Bleaching in the Indian Ocean: Socio-Economic Assessment of Effects
The mean temperature on the planet is increasing. The rate of this increase appears to be accelerating and is at present approximately 2 degrees per century. 1998 was the warmest year since temperature recordings started some 150 years ago. Similarly the 1990s was the warmest decade. In addition, 1997 and 1998 saw the strongest El Niño ever recorded. As a consequence of this, very high water temperatures were observed in many parts of the oceans, particularly in the tropical areas. Due to the high water temperatures, the corals over much of the world bleached and subsequently died. In 1997–98, massive mortality occurred particularly among corals of the Indian Ocean. The reefs of Sri Lanka, Maldives, India, Kenya, Tanzania, and Seychelles were particularly hard hit, with mortalities of up to 95%. Reefs in other parts of the Indian Ocean showed mortality rates up to 50%. Hence the coral mortality during 1998 was the unprecedented in severity. The secondary effects on the socio-economic condition in the coastal communities of the Indian Ocean are presently studied as a part of the CORDIO Program (Coral Reef Degradation of the Indian Ocean).
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Report biblioteca |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2002
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| Subjects: | Climate change, Coral reefs, |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/1834/563 |
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