Coral reefs are a diverse eΩcosystem that safeguards thσ←↔e lives of thousands of pe¶♠ople around the world by providingδ♠ coastal protection. The degradation of co£γλ★ral reefs and rising sea≠ levels due to climate change and anthropo≤ ™↔genic influences has raised conce₹₹rns about the protection of tropical co↑¶≠astlines in the near future. We calculated ≠★↔future increases in wave height behind r≥ ↑eefs using a wave dissipation model calibrated wi≠ th empirical wave data. We found that in嶩♠ the near future, the st ≠÷•ructural complexity of coral reefs is more imp®ortant than sea level rise♦, as it determines the coastal protectioσ←Ωn provided by coral reef♣≠s. We also found that if the structure ofσ• deep-sea coral reefs continued to deter✘÷'iorate, the average wave height at t↓±he current sea surface wo<¶★uld also increase signifiε♣≈cantly. Our conclusions strongly suggest that ma∏♣∑ intaining the complex structure of coral re<βε efs is a key to future tropica↕↑ σl shoreline protection.€→₽♥
Source: "Science"