Nearly two-thirds of coral reefs are at risk due to record-high temperatures in the world's oceans, the NOAA warns. According to Derek Manzello of NOAA's Coral Reef Watch Program, extensive coral bleaching is occurring on around 60.5% of reefs due to extreme heat stress. The enormous marine heat waves of last year prompted NOAA to update their alert system, which brings us to this worrying predicament. Reefs in at least 62 nations have experienced bleaching, which has increased their susceptibility to disease. The El Niño phenomena and climate change exacerbate the dilemma. With heat stress affecting 99.7% of Atlantic reefs, the future of these thriving underwater ecosystems is in jeopardy, underscoring the urgent need for international action.
References:
Chow, D. (2024, May 16). World’s oceans have gone “crazy haywire,” with majority of coral reefs in peril. NBCNews.com. https://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/ocean-record-heat-coral-bleaching-rcna152637
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