84% of coral reefs, in the waters of at least 82 countries and regions worldwide, have been exposed to high enough temperatures to cause “bleaching,” a process that increases the likelihood of coral death. [1] ,[2].
Bleaching events occur in episodes, with the first beginning in 1998, when 21% of coral reefs were exposed to temperatures high enough to cause bleaching. The second event occurred in 2010, affecting 37% of reefs, the third from 2014 to 2017, impacting 68%, and since January 2023, we have entered the fourth event.
Corals get their vibrant colors from the algae living within them, which serve as a food source for the corals. When the algae are exposed to prolonged periods of warm sea temperatures, they release toxic substances, causing the corals to expel them, leaving the corals white and weakened.
In 2024, the average annual sea surface temperature of the oceans (away from the poles) reached a record 20.87°C.
Coral reef bleaching, with corals often called “the tropical forests of the sea” by experts because they support around 25% of marine life, affects many human activities, including seafood production, tourism, and coastal protection from erosion.
Efforts are being made to preserve and restore corals, such as programs where experts rescue corals threatened by high temperatures, care for them in specialized farms, and then return them to the ocean. However, scientists say that for coral reefs to recover, it is essential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change.
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