Coral reefs are fading and dying due to global warming

Due to global warming, the problem of coral bleaching and extinction in the world’s oceans has become global. This follows from a report by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), an American scientific organization that also monitors the condition of coral reefs.

How indicated According to the report, mass reef bleaching in 2023 was observed in the waters of at least 54 countries, in the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans. This phenomenon occurs when the constant temperature of the water becomes too high. Due to heat stress, corals reject the colored algae living on them, and without these algae they cannot survive normally.

By words NOAA Coordinator Derek Manzello, 54% of all coral reefs in the world are now bleached.

This fourth global reef bleaching on record. The previous three occurred in 1998, 2010 and 2014-2017. All of them were associated with the El Niño climate phenomenon, which also leads to a sharp warming of sea waters. Last year, ocean surface temperatures exceeded all records recorded since 1979. Therefore, scientists are not sure whether the ecosystem will be able to cope with heat stress this time.