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4th Mass Coral Reef Bleaching and NOAA’s Findings

Context: According to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the world is on the verge of a fourth mass coral bleaching event which could see wide swathes of tropical reefs die.

What Are Corals and Coral Reefs?

  • Corals are marine animals known as polyps that form a symbiotic relationship with algae called zooxanthellae.
    • The zooxanthellae provide corals with food and oxygen, while corals offer a protective habitat.
  • Coral reefs are structures made of limestone, composed of coral polyps, found in tropical climates.

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Coral Bleaching

  • Coral bleaching occurs when corals, under stress such as high temperatures or pollution, expel their symbiotic algae.
  • Bleached corals turn white and struggle to survive without the algae.
  • If stressors are mitigated promptly, corals may recover as zooxanthellae return.
  • Reefs are crucial for marine biodiversity, coastal protection, and carbon absorption.
  • They contribute to the livelihoods and safety of human communities.
NOAA’s Findings on Coral Bleaching
  • The world may be facing its fourth mass coral bleaching event, with past events in 1998, 2010, and 2014.
  • A global bleaching event is indicated by bleaching across three ocean basins: the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans.
  • The 2014-2017 global bleaching event resulted in the loss of about one-third of the Great Barrier Reef’s corals.
  • Around 15% of the world’s reefs experienced significant coral die-offs in the last event.
  • The Caribbean experienced its worst coral bleaching record after the Northern Hemisphere’s summer last year.
  • Coral bleaching is linked to El Niño and exacerbated by climate change-induced temperature rises.
  • The first 12-month period with average temperatures exceeding 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels has been recorded.
  • A 1.5C temperature increase is a critical threshold for coral survival, with potential loss of 90% of the world’s corals.

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