Question

Warming ocean temperatures cause a bleaching event on a coral reef, which becomes degraded. The corals begin to die. In 3–5 sentences, explain what will happen to the sea floor around the coral reef and the coastline near the coral reef.(4 points)

Answer 1

Without the plants and algae trap and stabilize sediment, it erodes. As coral reefs degrade, habitat for marine life is lost and nearby coastlines become more susceptible to storms, waves and erosion. Corals used to form barriers to protect the shoreline from waves and storms. Without the coral reef structure buffer zones, the shorelines are more susceptible to storms, and floods, property damage, and wind erosion. The seafloor itself erodes too. This means that the seas along those coasts have become unexpectedly deep.