WASHINGTON, May 17, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - The massive coral bleaching episode signaled by US authorities last month is expanding and deepening in reefs around the globe, scientists warned Thursday. Amid record ocean temperatures, coral bleaching has been recorded in 62 countries and territories since February 2023, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said -- an increase of nine from its warning in April. The consequences of coral bleaching are far-reaching, affecting not only the health of oceans but also the livelihoods of people, food security and local economies. The ongoing mass coral bleaching is the world's fourth on record, with three others occurring between 1998 to 2017. Understanding the consequences of coral bleaching can take time: in the Caribbean, for example, coral could survive the immediate heat stress only to die later from "disease outbreaks or aggregations of coral predators," Manzello added.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha May 17, 2024 04:00 UTC