What environmental phenomenon in the Persian Gulf poses the greatest recurrent threat to Bahrain's coral reefs, such as those at Fasht Al Adhm?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Elevated summer sea surface temperatures causing bleaching
- Step 1: During extreme summer months, water temperatures in the shallow Gulf can exceed 35-36 degrees Celsius.
- Step 2: These prolonged temperature anomalies cause mass expulsion of symbiotic zooxanthellae algae, leading to widespread coral bleaching and reef mortality.
Answer
Elevated summer sea surface temperatures causing bleaching.
Why not the others: 'Glacial meltwater runoff reducing sea salinity levels' occurs in subpolar fjords; 'Subsea volcanic eruptions releasing toxic lava flows' does not occur in the non-volcanic Persian Gulf basin; 'Persistent winter polar sea ice pack scouring reefs' occurs in polar zones.
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