The massive coral bleaching episode initially flagged by US authorities last month is expanding and intensifying, scientists warn.
Amid record ocean temperatures, coral bleaching has now been recorded in 62 countries and territories since February 2023, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported on Thursday — an increase of nine regions since their April warning.
\"This event is still growing in size and impacts,\" said Derek Manzello, coordinator for NOAA's Coral Reef Watch program, during a press briefing. \"This is not something that would be happening without climate change.\"
New areas experiencing coral damage since NOAA's April 15 warning include India, Sri Lanka, and the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean, Manzello added.
Severe or prolonged heat stress causes corals to expel the symbiotic algae that give them color, leading to bleaching and eventual death if conditions do not improve. However, there is hope for recovery if ocean temperatures drop and other stressors like overfishing and pollution are mitigated.
The repercussions of coral bleaching extend beyond the marine ecosystem, affecting the livelihoods of millions, food security, and local economies dependent on healthy reefs.
This ongoing event marks the fourth mass coral bleaching on record, with previous events occurring between 1998 and 2017. Alarmingly, 60.5 percent of the world's reefs have experienced bleach-level heat in the past 12 months, a new record according to NOAA.
The previous widespread bleaching from 2014 to 2017 remains the most severe in terms of cumulative impact. As ocean temperatures continue to rise over the summer, bleaching could further affect reefs across Asia, Mexico, Belize, the Caribbean, and Florida.
Already, the Great Barrier Reef off Australia and coral ecosystems in Thailand have suffered significant bleaching, highlighting the urgent need for global action to combat climate change and protect these vital marine habitats.
Reference(s):
Global coral bleaching event expanding to new countries: scientists
cgtn.com
