Global Climate Change and Coral Reefs

I found out two new ways that global warming can cause bleaching on the reefs.

I already knew about increased ocean temperatures and ocean acidification being a problem (see my very first post down below), but it turns out that sedimentation is also to blame and drought and storms in Africa can impact coral reefs when dust storms blow dirt all the way over here.

Sounds pretty far fetched until I learned that most of the soil on San Salvador actually got here from just that method. Global climate change and deforestation in Africa is accelerating the dust storms which could be one of the impacts on the reefs. This just goes to show how complex climate change can really be.

Another impact could be changing patterns of ocean circulation which would make coral reproduction different. Research "thermohaline circulation" or "ocean conveyor belt" for more info.

I also really appreciated the comment about polar ice caps and ocean pH. Whoever wrote that was really thinking!

The ocean is basic and polar ice caps and glaciers are both neutral or slightly acidic, so the melting of that water into the ocean would also cause ocean acidification. So that could be a double whammy for the ocean.
Keep those good deep questions coming!!