{"id":27128,"date":"2024-04-15T18:33:37","date_gmt":"2024-04-15T18:33:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2024\/04\/15\/mass-bleaching-of-coral-reefs-caused-by-climate-change-and-warming-oceans-scientists-say\/"},"modified":"2024-04-15T18:33:37","modified_gmt":"2024-04-15T18:33:37","slug":"mass-bleaching-of-coral-reefs-caused-by-climate-change-and-warming-oceans-scientists-say","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2024\/04\/15\/mass-bleaching-of-coral-reefs-caused-by-climate-change-and-warming-oceans-scientists-say\/","title":{"rendered":"Mass bleaching of coral reefs caused by climate change and warming oceans, scientists say"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Coral reefs around the world are experiencing global bleaching as a result of warming oceans and human-caused climate change, top scientists have said.<\/p>\n

From February 2023 until now, coral reef bleaching has been confirmed across at least 53 countries, territories or local economies triggering the fourth global bleaching event, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and International Coral Reef Initiative said.<\/p>\n

Bleaching occurs when stressed coral expels the algae that give them their colour when eaten.<\/p>\n

It was described by ecologist David Obura, director of Coastal Oceans Research and Development, as like a “fever in humans” and if it occurs long enough can cause coral to die.<\/p>\n

The latest mass bleaching event has been caused by a sustained heating of the world’s oceans due to the effects of both climate change<\/a><\/strong> and an El Nino climate pattern<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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In March, the global average sea surface temperature reached a record monthly high of 21.07C (69.93F), according to the EU Copernicus Climate Change Service.<\/p>\n

“As the world’s oceans continue to warm, coral bleaching is becoming more frequent and severe,” Derek Manzello, NOAA Coral Reef Watch coordinator, said in a statement.<\/p>\n

Scientists have found that for bleaching to begin, coral reefs have to be in waters that are at least 1C warmer than what they are used to for about four or more weeks.<\/p>\n

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\n Coral reefs are a crucial part of the ecosystem that sustain underwater life. Pic: AP
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This is important because coral reefs are a crucial part of the ecosystem that sustain underwater life, protect biodiversity and slow erosion. They also support local economies through tourism.<\/p>\n

The last mass bleaching event ended in March 2017. It lasted three years – with two other bleaching events occurring in 2010 and 1998.<\/p>\n

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