Scientists: Coral Bleaching Happens Around the World
2024-04-17
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1Scientists say coral reefs around the world, from Australia to Kenya, are experiencing bleaching for the fourth time in the last 30 years.
2They say the colorful undersea structures are turning white as a result of warming ocean waters.
3The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the International Coral Reef Initiative said Monday that at least 53 countries, territories, or local economies have reported bleaching from February 2023 to now.
4Coral bleaching happens when the small ocean animals face stress and expel the algae that provide them with energy and give them their color.
5If the bleaching is severe and long-lasting, the coral can die.
6Coral reefs cover less than one percent of the ocean floor, but they help marine ecosystems and economies.
7Reefs are the rocky structures that corals create over time.
8It is estimated that one fourth of marine life depends on reefs for shelter, food and as a place for reproduction.
9Coral reefs also help coastal communities by forming a protective barrier against storms and large waves.
10A 2022 study in the publication Marine Policy found that reefs help to avoid property damage for more than 5 million people worldwide.
11The Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network estimates that reefs provide about $2.7 trillion in goods and services every year.
12That includes billions of dollars from tourism to the value of coastal protection.
13But rising sea temperatures and human destruction have endangered corals.
14People have observed bleaching happening in different parts of the world for some time.
15In the world's largest coral reef, Australia's Great Barrier Reef, bleaching affected 90 percent of the coral observed by scientists in 2022.
16In the Florida Coral Reef, scientists reported notable bleaching last year.
17But for scientists to declare a worldwide bleaching event, it has to be documented within each of the major oceans, including the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans, in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
18With bleaching happening in the Indian and Pacific oceans, NOAA experts expect that this worldwide bleaching event could be the most extensive yet.
19Scientists have reported widespread bleaching in reefs in the Caribbean Sea.
20Last August coastal sea surface temperatures were between one and three degrees Celsius above normal.
21And scientists have documented huge "die-offs" across the area.
22Lorenzo Alvarez-Filip is with the National Autonomous University of Mexico.
23He said, "What is happening is new for us, and to science."
24He added, "Everything that you can see while diving was white in some reefs."
25What is happening now is being called the fourth worldwide bleaching event.
26The last one continued for three years and ended in May 2017.
27It was caused by the warm El Niño ocean current event that strongly influences the weather in some parts of the world.
28Two other bleaching events happened in 2010 and 1998.
29Derek Manzello is the coordinator of NOAA Coral Reef Watch.
30He said in a statement, "More than 54 percent of the reef areas in the global ocean are experiencing bleaching-level heat stress."
31Manzello added, "As the world's oceans continue to warm, coral bleaching is becoming more frequent and severe."
32Selina Stead is a marine biologist and chief executive of the Australian Institute of Marine Science.
33Stead called climate change "the biggest threat to coral reefs worldwide."
34She said scientists are working to learn more about how coral deals with heat and to identify naturally heat-tolerant corals.
35But she added that it is "critical the world works to reduce carbon emissions."
36David Obura heads Coastal Oceans Research and Development Indian Ocean East Africa which is based in Mombasa, Kenya.
37He said the coral reefs are "going into a decline that we cannot stop, unless we really stop carbon dioxide emissions."
38I'm Dan Friedell.
1Scientists say coral reefs around the world, from Australia to Kenya, are experiencing bleaching for the fourth time in the last 30 years. They say the colorful undersea structures are turning white as a result of warming ocean waters. 2The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the International Coral Reef Initiative said Monday that at least 53 countries, territories, or local economies have reported bleaching from February 2023 to now. 3Coral bleaching happens when the small ocean animals face stress and expel the algae that provide them with energy and give them their color. If the bleaching is severe and long-lasting, the coral can die. 4Why does it matter? 5Coral reefs cover less than one percent of the ocean floor, but they help marine ecosystems and economies. Reefs are the rocky structures that corals create over time. 6It is estimated that one fourth of marine life depends on reefs for shelter, food and as a place for reproduction. Coral reefs also help coastal communities by forming a protective barrier against storms and large waves. A 2022 study in the publication Marine Policy found that reefs help to avoid property damage for more than 5 million people worldwide. 7The Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network estimates that reefs provide about $2.7 trillion in goods and services every year. That includes billions of dollars from tourism to the value of coastal protection. But rising sea temperatures and human destruction have endangered corals. 8People have observed bleaching happening in different parts of the world for some time. In the world's largest coral reef, Australia's Great Barrier Reef, bleaching affected 90 percent of the coral observed by scientists in 2022. In the Florida Coral Reef, scientists reported notable bleaching last year. 9But for scientists to declare a worldwide bleaching event, it has to be documented within each of the major oceans, including the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans, in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. 10The fourth worldwide bleaching event 11With bleaching happening in the Indian and Pacific oceans, NOAA experts expect that this worldwide bleaching event could be the most extensive yet. 12Scientists have reported widespread bleaching in reefs in the Caribbean Sea. Last August coastal sea surface temperatures were between one and three degrees Celsius above normal. And scientists have documented huge "die-offs" across the area. 13Lorenzo Alvarez-Filip is with the National Autonomous University of Mexico. He said, "What is happening is new for us, and to science." He added, "Everything that you can see while diving was white in some reefs." 14What is happening now is being called the fourth worldwide bleaching event. The last one continued for three years and ended in May 2017. It was caused by the warm El Niño ocean current event that strongly influences the weather in some parts of the world. Two other bleaching events happened in 2010 and 1998. 15Derek Manzello is the coordinator of NOAA Coral Reef Watch. He said in a statement, "More than 54 percent of the reef areas in the global ocean are experiencing bleaching-level heat stress." Manzello added, "As the world's oceans continue to warm, coral bleaching is becoming more frequent and severe." 16Selina Stead is a marine biologist and chief executive of the Australian Institute of Marine Science. Stead called climate change "the biggest threat to coral reefs worldwide." 17She said scientists are working to learn more about how coral deals with heat and to identify naturally heat-tolerant corals. But she added that it is "critical the world works to reduce carbon emissions." 18David Obura heads Coastal Oceans Research and Development Indian Ocean East Africa which is based in Mombasa, Kenya. He said the coral reefs are "going into a decline that we cannot stop, unless we really stop carbon dioxide emissions." 19I'm Dan Friedell. 20Hai Do adapted this report for VOA Learning English from Associated Press and Reuters sources. 21_____________________________________________ 22Words in This Story 23stress -n. a condition of physical tension and difficulty 24marine -adj. related to the ocean or seas 25tourism -n. the industry of providing food, shelter and services for people who travel for pleasure 26die-off -n. an event in which a large number of living things dies 27decline -n. a worsening of health or the condition of something 28We want to hear from you. 29Our comment policy is here.