Coral bleaching: Fourth global mass stress episode underway - US scientists
Coral around the world is turning white and even dying as recent record ocean heat takes a devastating toll.
It has triggered the fourth global mass coral bleaching event, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Bleaching happens when coral gets stressed and turns white because the water it lives in is too hot.
Coral sustains ocean life, fishing, and creates trillions of dollars of revenue annually.
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The first warning signs were in the Caribbean last year when bathers found the water off the coast of Florida was as warm as a hot tub.
That heat moved into the southern hemisphere. It has now affected more than half the world's coral including in Australia's Great Barrier Reef, and in coastlines in Tanzania, Mauritius, Brazil, Pacific islands, as well as in the Red Sea and Persian Gulf.
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For 10 days in February scientist Neal Cantin flew a plane over the Great Barrier Reef for Australia's Institute of Marine Science. The UN heritage site stretches 2,000km, or roughly the length of the US east coast.
"For the first time ever we've documented very high levels of bleaching in all three areas of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park," Dr Cantin says. The levels are likely to kill lots of coral, he adds.
Coral is vital to the planet. Nicknamed the sea's architect, it builds vast structures that house 25% of all marine species.
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https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-68814016