For the fourth time in history, coral reefs worldwide are undergoing global bleaching, reef scientists shared Monday, placing the blame on warming ocean waters due to climate change.
Reef bleaching occurs when stressed coral releases algae, which is their food source and provides their hues. If severe bleaching occurs for an extended period of time, the coral will die. The problem is affecting coral across at least 53 countries, territories or local economies has been confirmed between February 2023 and now, according to scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and International Coral Reef Initiative.
Although individual reefs have bleached previously, such as Australia’s Great Barrier Reef in 2022 or the Florida Coral Reef last year, the occurrence must be observed in each of the major ocean basins in order to declare its happening on a global scale. This is the second worldwide bleaching phenomenon in the past 10 years.
Climate change is the biggest threat to coral reefs worldwide, said marine biologist Selina Stead, the chief executive of the Australian Institute of Marine Science. Although scientists are working to learn more about coral’s response to heat and naturally heat-tolerant corals, it’s “critical the world works to reduce carbon emissions,” she said.
