How fire kills corals
Fire (often man-made) burns vegetation leaving mostly dirt behind.
It rains. Hard.
The dirt washes down the valleys to the ocean (erosion).
The dirt from the hills creates a cloud over the coral reefs. The dirt settles on the reef (sedimentation).
The corals can no longer get the sunlight they need to produce food.
The corals die.
–This tragic chain of events happens in many places all over the tropics. It is very evident on the Island of Guam in areas adjacent to War in the Pacific National Historical Park where the natural resources are monitored.
What we do on land is reflected in our oceans.