Threats to coral reefs
Damage by storms, tsunamis, cyclones and hurricanes
Cyclone Percy across the South Pacific on March 1, 2005.
Source: NASA/GSFC/MODIS Rapid Response Team, Jacques Descloitres.
Source: NASA/GSFC/MODIS Rapid Response Team, Jacques Descloitres.
Extra information about cyclone Percy
A lot of destruction is caused by storms, tsunamis, cyclones and hurricanes. These phenomena influence the growth of coral reefs in different ways:
- The direct damage from storm waves is mostly restricted to less than 20 m depth, although coral blocks falling down the steep slopes may cause severe damage at much greater depths.
- Torrential rainfall may locally lower the salinity level of the sea water, which results in a lot of stress to the corals.
- Excessive rainfall on the mainland may result in augmented runoff loaded with sediments, making the water more muddy and attenuating much of the light that corals need.
