Can Fringing Reefs Keep Pace With Rapid Sea-Level Rise?

💡 The Answer

• Fringing reefs can grow vertically at rates of 0.5 to 1.5 centimeters per year under optimal conditions.
• Historical evidence shows they kept pace with postglacial sea-level rise of about 1 centimeter per year.
• Modern sea-level rise of 3–4 millimeters per year is within their growth capacity, but warming and acidification reduce growth.
• If water quality is poor or temperatures rise too high, reef accretion may fall behind, leading to “reef drowning” and loss of coastal protection.