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Climate Change and Coral Reef Ecosystem: A Study on Ecological and Socio-Economic Perspectives in the Indian Ocean

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Author Affiliations

  • 1Department of Geography, Nagar College, Murshidabad, West Bengal, India
  • 2Department of Geography, Nagar College, Murshidabad, West Bengal, India

Res. J. Language and Literature Sci., Volume 12, Issue (3), Pages 50-56, June,19 (2025)

Abstract

Coral reef ecosystems in the Indian Ocean, covering less than 1% of the ocean floor, extend around 25% of marine biodiversity and are crucial to the livelihoods, food, and cultural assimilation of millions in coastal buffers as well as island-based communities. This study examines the ecological and socio-economic impactsof climate change on these reefs, drawing on recent scientific literature, satellite data, and institutional reports. Key climatic phenomenon drivers—uplift of sea temperatures, ocean acidification, and sea-level rise—are assessed for their cascading effects on reef physical health and the human environment. Findings show that the accelerated rate of ocean warming (projected to increase by 1.7–3.8°C per century), more frequent marine heatwaves, and rapid acidification have trended to widely extend to coral bleaching, biodiversity loss, and structural changes in reef ecosystems and biodiversity. These environmental changes have unavoidable socio-economic consequences, including declining fishery productivity, decreased tourism economic atmosphere, and increased vulnerability of coastal communities to natural disasters and extreme weather. This study highlights the immediate need for coordinated efforts to compel scientific research, policymaking, and local expertise to strengthen the resilience of coral reefs. It calls for urgent global action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as use, in a similar fashion, region-specific and community-driven initiatives to prevent further biodiversity loss andensure socio-economic security for Indian Ocean littoral states.

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