Impact of global warming on coral reefs

New study, "Recent massive coral mortality events in the South China Sea: was global warming and ENSO variability responsible?"

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0009254112002677

Conclusion: yes.

The increased frequency distribution of mortality ages since 1930 AD and more recently since 1970 AD appears to coincide with progressively warmer sea-surface temperatures, both regionally and globally. Our data highlight the vulnerability of local coral communities in the face of present and predicted future warming.