A massive "underwater fire" is happening in the oceans. Experts warn the entire humanity
The world is facing a massive episode of coral bleaching due to record ocean temperatures, warned the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on April 15th, as reported by AFP.
For the second time in ten years, coral reefs worldwide are affected by a major bleaching episode linked to rising water temperatures, with some parts of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia at risk of disappearing.
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Although bleaching can lead to coral death, it is a reversible phenomenon, as affected corals can survive if temperatures drop and if other stress factors, such as overfishing or pollution, are reduced.
"Between February 2023 and April 2024, significant coral bleaching was observed in the northern and southern hemispheres of each major ocean basin", said Derek Manzello from NOAA.
This phenomenon has been confirmed in all tropical regions, especially in Florida (southern USA), the Caribbean, Brazil and the eastern tropical Pacific.
The consequences of this phenomenon are multiple. Bleaching affects ocean ecosystems but also human populations, impacting their food security and local economies.
The current bleaching episode is the fourth recorded by NOAA since 1985. Previous episodes were observed in 1998, 2010 and 2016.
