Scientists are reporting corals are bleaching white and dying from rising ocean temperatures across a more than 1,000km stretch of the Great Barrier Reef.
Scientists from around the world are becoming increasingly alarmed by mass coral bleaching events caused by record-breaking ocean water temperatures. Water found to be as warm as a hot tub off the coast of Florida last year has moved to the southern hemisphere, infecting the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, as well as coral in coastlines in Brazil, Tanzania and the Red Sea. The BBC has more on the threat to marine life.
Today I explore one of my coral stones. The fossilized skeletal ruins of a community, a city of tiny clones building ribbons of walls that now gleam like bones bleached in the sun.
The world is currently experiencing its second major coral bleaching event in 10 years, with reef systems from Australia to Florida teetering on the brink of disaster following months of record-breaking ocean heat, a US agency announced Monday.
>Record-breaking land and sea temperatures, driven by climate breakdown, will probably cause “unprecedented mass coral bleaching and mortality” throughout 2024, according to a pioneering coral scientist.
>The impact of climate change on coral reefs has reached “uncharted territory”, said Prof Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, from the University of Queensland, Australia, leading to concerns that we could be at a “tipping point”
Hot seawater killed most of cultivated coral in #Florida Keys in setback for restoration effort
Researchers are finding that record hot seawater killed more than three-quarters of human-cultivated #coral that scientists had placed in the #FloridaKeys in recent years.
Scientists will unleash an army of crabs to help save Florida’s dying reef.
Vox reports: "The key is in the crabs’ diets: These critters consume enormous quantities of seaweed, also known as macro algae. Algae has been choking reefs throughout the world and especially in Florida."
Reef in crisis: scientists despair as corals perish
"The death is so widespread in the shallow lagoons of Heron, One Tree and Lizard islands that it's palpable.
At One Tree Island Research Station, at the southern end of the reef, University of Sydney marine ecologist Dr John Turnbull can smell the decay.
Probably the worst #coral#bleaching on record is now killing a 1400-mil long stretch on the #GreatBarrierReef. This is caused by off-the-charts levels of ocean heat thanks to human-caused #ClimateChange.
"There is no evidence of mass bleaching occurring before 1998 but, since an episode that year, marine heat waves have returned with increasing frequency, in 2002, 2016, 2017, 2020 and 2022."
“Coral bleaching is evident across 73 percent of the famed marine park, as abnormally high ocean temperatures propel the world’s fourth mass bleaching event.”
It started with a tip from the local First Nation of a "bump on the sea floor" where the fish liked to be and led to the discovery of Canada's only known live coral reef.
"Scientists fear excessive ocean heat – which is bleaching corals in parts of the #GreatBarrierReef – is now hitting the world’s most southern coral reef at the world heritage-listed Lord Howe island."
Scientists say ocean warming is the main cause for repeated, intense bleaching over recent decades.
But #coral reef misinformation bubbles up amid bleaching worldwide
"The statement that bleaching is being triggered by natural sources is unfounded, and in fact at this point of #ClimateChange, a ridiculous and frankly dangerous claim."
Bleaching fears along 1,000km stretch of the Great Barrier Reef (lighthouse-eco.co.za)
Scientists are reporting corals are bleaching white and dying from rising ocean temperatures across a more than 1,000km stretch of the Great Barrier Reef.
‘Literally off the charts’: global coral reef heat stress monitor forced to add new alerts as temperatures rise (lighthouse-eco.co.za)
Three new levels added by US Coral Reef Watch after ‘extreme’ unprecedented heat, with highest alert warning of ‘near complete mortality’
Record-Breaking Ocean Heat Triggers 4th Global Coral Bleaching Event (www.sciencealert.com)
The world is currently experiencing its second major coral bleaching event in 10 years, with reef systems from Australia to Florida teetering on the brink of disaster following months of record-breaking ocean heat, a US agency announced Monday.
Coral reef that 'shouldn't exist' thrives off B.C.'s Pacific Ocean, biologist says (lighthouse-eco.co.za)
It started with a tip from the local First Nation of a "bump on the sea floor" where the fish liked to be and led to the discovery of Canada's only known live coral reef.