Experts have reported significant coral bleaching occurring across the globe as the world’s oceans undergo unprecedented rising temperatures.
On Monday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced the occurrence of the fourth global bleaching event on record, marking the second occurrence within the past decade.
“According to Dr. Derek Manzello, coordinator of NOAA CRW, there has been a notable occurrence of coral bleaching in the major ocean basins of both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, spanning from February 2023 to April 2024,” stated a press release on Monday.
Warmer ocean temperatures can lead to the expulsion of algae residing in coral tissue, resulting in coral bleaching. It is important to note that coral bleaching does not automatically spell death for corals. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) highlights that corals have the potential to recover if the stress on their ecosystems is alleviated.
According to the Australian Institute of Marine Science, while local factors such as storms, disease, sediments, and changes in salinity can cause corals to bleach on a small scale, mass bleaching, which affects multiple types of coral reefs, is primarily triggered by rising sea temperatures.
According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service, the average global sea surface temperature reached a record-breaking 69.93 degrees Fahrenheit last month.
According to a report by NOAA, coral reefs in various oceans, including the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian, have been experiencing widespread bleaching since early 2023. This phenomenon has been observed in regions such as Florida and the U.S. Coastline, the Caribbean, Central America, South America, Australia, the South Pacific, the Persian Gulf, the coasts of East Africa, and Indonesia.
Manzello emphasized that coral bleaching is becoming increasingly frequent and severe due to the warming of the world’s oceans. He pointed out that when these events reach a certain level of severity or duration, they can result in coral mortality. This is particularly concerning because it negatively impacts the livelihoods of those who rely on coral reefs.
According to NOAA, coral bleaching does not automatically result in the death of corals. They have the ability to recover if the stress on their ecosystems is alleviated.
In 2019, a study titled “Interventions to Increase the Resilience of Coral Reefs” was published by NOAA and the National Academies of Sciences. This study emphasized the significance of coral restoration and introduced “resilience-based management practices.”
“We are at the forefront of coral reef research, management, and restoration, and we are actively and determinedly putting into action the suggestions outlined in the 2019 Interventions Report,” stated Jennifer Koss, the director of NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP).
In 2023, Florida experienced a heatwave that triggered an extraordinary coral bleaching event in the region. The event, described by NOAA as “unprecedented,” started earlier, lasted longer, and was more severe than any previous occurrence in the area.
In July 2023, meteorologists at the time reported an ocean temperature of 101.1 degrees in Manatee Bay, Florida, as indicated by a buoy.
According to NOAA, in an effort to mitigate the impact of global climate change on local coral reefs, the Iconic Reefs program was implemented. This initiative involves relocating coral nurseries to deeper, cooler waters and deploying sunshades to protect corals in different regions.
According to NOAA, the global coral bleaching event in 2021 is the latest occurrence in a series of confirmed events that have taken place in 1998, 2010, and 2014-2017.