April 16, 2024 — The world’s oceans are experiencing another global mass coral bleaching event because of unprecedented heat, scientists at the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration confirmed.
“This is the fourth time, on record, that coral bleaching has occurred simultaneously within all major ocean basins,” said Derek Manzello, ecologist and co-ordinator of NOAA’s Coral Reef Watch.
Bleaching — a ghostly discolouration, in stark contrast to vibrant colours found in reefs — can occur when corals are heat-stressed, expelling microscopic algae from within. The longer and hotter it gets, the more likely the corals will die, disrupting fragile ecosystems as well as the lives and livelihoods of people who depend on them.
But the full extent of damage is yet to come. Manzello is seeing an increase in affected reefs every week.
“If that trend continues, this will be the most spatially expansive, global bleaching event on record — in as little as a few weeks, potentially,” Manzello warned.