export_ofoct.com

[00:00.17] The American agency that follows the risk of coral bleaching around the world says “the worst bleaching event in the history of the planet may come soon.”

[00:11.87] Those are the words of Derek Manzello, head of NOAA’s Coral Reef Watch.

[00:25.42] NOAA is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

[00:26.21] Manzello said the “entirety” of the Southern Hemisphere is “probably going to bleach this year.”

[00:33.11] The Southern Hemisphere is currently in summer and suffering from record-breaking water temperatures.

[00:41.35] Experts say climate change and the El Nino weather pattern are to blame for the warmer water.

[00:51.17] Corals are small marine organisms that attach to mineral deposits in the ocean.

[00:58.88] Collections of the animals form ocean structures that support many kinds of sea life.

[01:07.65] Bleaching is the term used by experts who see the once colorful coral turn white when water temperatures rise.

[01:18.81] It is a sign the animals are dying.

[01:23.05] If corals die or go dormant, they can hurt fishing and tourism industries.

[01:32.08] The last large coral bleaching event around the world took place from 2014 to 2017.

[01:41.94] At the time, the Great Barrier Reef off Australia lost nearly one-third of its coral.

[01:52.30] Overall, the world lost 15 percent of its coral.

[01:57.88] Corals get their color from small plants called algae that live inside them.

[02:04.79] The high temperatures stress the coral and cause them to expel the algae.

[02:11.69] When that happens, the corals lose their color.

[02:15.94] The algae help the coral stay healthy and without it, the corals face increasing risk of disease.

[02:26.03] Observers are concerned that 2024’s bleaching will be even worse than the last time.

[02:37.19] Scientists reported the worst coral bleaching on record in the Caribbean late last year.

[02:45.96] Manzello said there is coral bleaching “all over the place” in the Southern Hemisphere.

[02:53.94] He said all of the Great Barrier Reef is bleaching as are reefs in the territory of American Samoa.

[03:01.36] The El Nino weather pattern always brings warmer ocean temperatures.

[03:07.47] However, the world just experienced one of the warmest 12-month periods on record.

[03:15.98] In 2023, temperatures were 1.5 degrees Celsius higher than during pre-industrial times.

[03:26.60] Scientists say a longer period of high temperatures could cause the deaths of 90 percent of the world’s coral.

[03:36.97] Manzello noted that scientists must look at coral in all three major oceans – Atlantic, Pacific and Indian – to call a bleaching event “global.”

[03:49.71] Scientists use sea surface temperature data and examine satellite imagery of reefs to measure for bleaching.

[03:59.80] Based on studies so far, Manzello said the world is “already there.”

[04:05.91] A similar study of Indian Ocean coral is continuing.

[04:12.29] Joanne Manning is a spokesperson for the Australian Institute of Marine Science.

[04:18.69] Manning said the organization has documented extensive bleaching in the Keppels area and Capricorn-Bunker groups.

[04:29.04] She said the group’s research continues.