Coral Reefs: Dying Guardians of the Ocean

Coral reefs are dying right now, and the reason is terrifying. These underwater

cities house one third of all marine life in less than 1% of the ocean. But when water gets

just half a degree too warm, something horrific happens. The coral expels

the tiny algae living inside it, the algae that gives it color and food. Without them,

the coral turns ghost white and slowly starves to death. This is coral bleaching.

Scientists watched 50% of the Great Barrier Reef's coral cover vanish between 1985 and 2012.

Imagine half of every forest on land disappearing in your parents' lifetime.

The reef provides food for 275 million people and protects coastlines from deadly tsunamis