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This bleaching occurs because corals can only live in a narrow temperature range.
這種漂白現象之所以發生是因為珊瑚蟲只能在很窄的氣溫范圍內存活。
Healthy corals get their colour from microscopic algae living in their tissues.
健康的珊瑚蟲顏色來自于生活它們組織里的海藻。
These manufacture food for the corals by photosynthesis but when the temperature rises just two degrees above the normal summer maximum, the algal cells are expelled because they no longer benefit the coral.
這些海藻通過光合作用為珊瑚蟲生產食物，但是當氣溫上升，僅僅比夏天正常的最高氣溫高兩度海藻細胞就會被排出，因為它們不在對珊瑚有用處。
The bleaching effect is the white chalky skeleton showing through the coral's transparent tissues.
漂白效應是珊瑚白色的骨骼，透過透明的組織顯露出來。
But they're not dead. Not yet.
但是它們沒有死亡。
They can survive in this bleached state for several weeks.
它們能在這種漂白狀態下生存幾個星期。
If the temperature drops,the corals acquire new algae from plankton floating by.
如果氣溫下降，珊瑚從游過的浮游生物獲得新的海藻。
But, if the warm water persists, the coral dies.
但是如果水溫繼續保持下去，珊瑚就會死亡。
Coral bleaching hadn't been seen on the Great Barrier Reef before the 1980s.
在大堡礁珊瑚礁變白現象在19世紀80年代之前，沒有被看到過。
Due to global warming, bleaching's now more common and cyclones are likely to be more frequent too.
由于全球變暖，珊瑚礁變白變得更普遍，颶風也變得更頻繁了。
And there's something even more insidious.
有一些事情有著更嚴重的潛在危險。
Temperatures are rising because more and more carbon dioxide from human activity enters the atmosphere.
氣溫上升是由于人類活動導致越來越多的，二氧化碳進入到大氣。
This dissolves in seawater turning it weakly acidic,which can stop coral growth.
它們溶解到海水中導致海水輕微變酸，這能導致珊瑚礁停止生長。
If they can't build their chalky skeletons,reefs will start to crumble.
如果它們不能建造它們的骨骼，珊瑚礁將會開始慢慢垮掉。
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