The burning of vast amounts of coal, oil, and natural gas is increasing the amount of certain gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere and contributing to climate change. These gases are trapping heat inside the planet and temperatures gradually rising.

While corals are well adapted to their life in the tropics, they are not prepared for warmer temperatures, and they are falling victim to global warming. When it gets too hot the corals “bleach”, i.e. they turn a bright white color, which is a sign of sickness. If temperatures remain high for an extended period of time, corals will die.

Recently, as a result of record high temperatures, many corals throughout the world have died. Scientists are worried that if the world’s temperatures continue to rise, we will see many other corals sicken and die. And this might be worse in those places where the corals are already stressed.