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While warm sea temperature is clearly the causative agent for mass bleaching, marine researchers are also concerned about the increasing acidification of the sea. Explaining, Dr. Lough says this would also be a direct effect of increasing greenhouse gases in on ocean chemistry and its consequences for reefs. This alters the concentrate of carbonate and bicarbonate ions in sea water which corals use to calcify and build skeletons. Weakened skeletons will make corals more susceptible to storm damage and erosion.
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The Hindu, 13 May 2007. Article.