The phenomenon linked to climate change, which threatens the survival of reefs rich in biodiversity, now affects more than two thirds of corals in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Ocean.
Published on 18/10/2024 21:17
Updated on 18/10/2024 22:46
Reading time: 2min
A bad sign for the planet. Corals are currently experiencing the most massive bleaching episode ever recorded due to high ocean temperatures, an American government agency announced on Friday, October 18. The phenomenon linked to climate change, which threatens the survival of reefs rich in biodiversity, now affects more than two thirds of corals in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Ocean.
“The planet is currently in the midst of the most massive bleaching event on record,” Derek Manzello, coordinator of the coral program at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), told AFP. The episode, which is still progressing, is the fourth since 1998. “Between January 1, 2023 and October 10, 2024, approximately 77% of the world’s coral reefs experienced thermal stress at levels consistent with bleaching”he added. “This percentage is still increasing.”
Around 850 million people worldwide depend on coral reefs for work and food. Reefs, which are home to very rich and diverse ecosystems, also protect coasts from storms and erosion, according to the NGO WWF.
The rate of ocean warming has almost doubled since 2005, according to a report from the European Copernicus observatory published at the end of September. This phenomenon is accompanied by an increase in marine heatwaves. Thus, 22% of the world’s oceans experienced at least one severe or extreme heat wave in 2023. This warming can be explained by the fact that the oceans have absorbed since 1970 “more than 90% of the excess heat in the climate system”caused by humanity’s massive greenhouse gas emissions, according to the IPCC.
