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Coral Reefs are host to at least 25% marine life that are now facing decline due to changing environment and struggling to maintain these calcium-carbonate-based structures. Scientists found earlier that Australia's Great Barrier Reef has suffered 40% in the last thirty years.

The colorful and vibrant marine ecosystems, that we know as reefs, have faced stress due to overfishing, pollution, rise in water temperatures and the changing chemistry of the sea. For the purpose of reversing the damage, the scientists have been trying to isolate the impact of this one pressure point on coral reefs in particular, acidification of the ocean. Although there have been previous studies that show that ocean acidification may slow down the growth of coral reefs, the scientists worry that the process may already have started. Researchers revealed that when given antacid treatment, it leads to growth of coral reef bed in Australia, according to new study published in Nature journal.

Through this method "you can effectively offset ocean acidification temporarily on a very small scale," study lead author Rebecca Albright tells the Monitor in an interview. While it will greatly help small, isolated reefs, it is impossible to use these geoengineering solution on a massive global scale. In fact, to modify the chemistry of the ocean is just a quick-fix but not a permanent solution, said Dr. Albright. It will not get to the bottom of the problem.

Just like many environmental issues, declining coral reef is also caused due to increases emission of carbon-dioxide. As the factories and human activity recklessly releases carbon-dioxide emissions in the Earth's atmosphere, 25% of it gets absorbed by the sea that makes the water less alkaline and changing its chemistry. This process consumes carbonate ions that marine organisms use to develop shells of calcium carbonate, aka, coral reefs, reports The Christian Monitor