New Maps Show Worldwide Coral Bleaching by 2056 - Global Warming?

In a study funded by Pacific Islands Climate Change Cooperative, new maps show the potential effect of worldwide coral bleaching by 2056.

Corals in Polynesia

The mass bleaching is caused by higher-than-normal sea temperatures. Light kills the algae that reside within the corals, giving them the bright colors as well as nutrition. The findings of the study emphasize that without significant reductions in emissions, most coral reefs are at risk.

The maps utilize spatial variability, showing the effect of temperature increases on a global scale. This temperature increase (also called Global Warming) could be the result of human development, industrialization and pollution. This wall map, How Man Pollutes His World, published by National Geographic, shows how everything we do affects the environment.

How Man Pollutes His World Wall Map

The use of maps illustrate the point that the world is changing – and quickly! What will the world look like in 2056? How will the bleaching of coral reefs affect the ocean ecosystems in those areas? Using geospatial technology allows us to not only collect, analyze and compare large amounts of data, but also make predictions about how the world will change. Maps help us explore and understand our world, after all, we only have one Earth.