Witness the devastating effects of coral bleaching, like what is happening around Lizard Island on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, caused by rising water temperatures.
A recent report from a US agency reveals that a global coral bleaching event, starting last year, has now become the largest ever recorded. The affected reef area continues to expand rapidly.
Between January 2023 and October 10, 2024, approximately 77 percent of the world’s coral reefs have faced heat stress leading to bleaching. Derek Manzello from NOAA stated that this ongoing event has exceeded previous records in just half the time and shows no signs of slowing down.
Coral reefs are intricate marine creatures composed of polyps living in a symbiotic relationship with algae. These algae provide food and vibrant colors to corals. However, during periods of excessive warmth like recent heatwaves affecting regions from Florida to Australia, corals expel their algae turning white—a process known as “bleaching”—leaving them vulnerable to diseases and potential extinction.
Learn more about this critical issue here.
2024-10-18 19:15:02