Coral Reefs: Majestic Realms Under the Sea, Hardcover

When mass coral bleaching and die-offs were first identified in the 1980s, and eventually linked to warming events, the scientific community was sure that such a dramatic and unambiguous signal would serve as a warning sign about the devastating effects of global warming. Instead, most people ignored that warning. Subsequent decades have witnessed yet more degradation. Reefs around the world have lost more than 50 percent of their living coral since the 1970s.

In this book, distinguished marine ecologist Peter F. Sale imparts his passion for the unexpected beauty, complexity, and necessity of coral reefs. By placing reefs in the wider context of global climate change, Sale demonstrates how their decline is more than simply a one-off environmental tragedy, but rather an existential warning to humanity. He offers a reframing of the enormous challenge humanity faces as a noble venture to steer the planet into safe waters that might even retain some coral reefs.

About author(s):Peter F. Sale, a marine ecologist, is distinguished university professor emeritus at University of Windsor, Canada. He most recently served as senior advisor and assistant director for coastal projects for the United Nations University's Institute for Water, Environment and Health. He blogs at www.petersalebooks.com, and tweets as @PeterSale3.