The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) warns of a fourth mass coral bleaching event, potentially causing the death of tropical reefs, including parts of Australia's Great Barrier Reef.
Marine biologists are heightened due to the recent record-breaking heat waves triggered by climate change and the El Nino climate pattern.
Ecologist Derek Manzello, coordinator of NOAA's Coral Reef Watch, predicts that the Southern Hemisphere is likely to bleach this year, as the global monitoring authority on coral bleaching risk.
He stated that we are nearing the worst bleaching event in the planet's history.
The information provided is not yet publicly disclosed.
Coral bleaching, triggered by heat stress, is a process where corals remove the colorful algae in their tissues, causing them to become pale and susceptible to starvation and disease.
Coral bleaching poses a significant threat to the ocean ecosystem, fisheries, and tourism industries that rely on healthy, vibrant reefs for attracting tourists.
OMINOUS SIGNS
The last global mass coral bleaching event, from 2014 to 2017, resulted in the Great Barrier Reef losing nearly a third of its corals, with preliminary results suggesting 15% of the world's reefs experienced significant coral die-offs.
This year is expected to be even worse as more observations are being made.
The Caribbean experienced its worst coral bleaching on record in the Northern Hemisphere summer of last year.
Manzello reported that the Southern Hemisphere is experiencing bleaching, with the Great Barrier Reef and American Samoa experiencing the phenomenon at the end of its summer.
Global bleaching events have occurred in 2010 and 1998.
Coral bleaching is frequently linked to the El Nino climate phenomenon, which results in warmer ocean waters.
The world has experienced its first 12- Month period with an average temperature over 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels.
Scientists predict a 1.5C rise as the tipping point for mass coral die-offs, potentially causing 90% of the world's corals to be lost.
FIELD INSPECTIONS
Global bleaching must occur in three ocean basins: Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian, for an event to be considered global.
Scientists are analyzing sea surface temperature data and satellite imagery to determine if reef pixels are crossing certain bleaching thresholds.
Manzello stated that a global mass bleaching event is technically possible in 2024, as a certain percentage of reef pixels must reveal heat stress levels in each ocean basin.
NOAA is awaiting final confirmation from Indian Ocean scientists or photographs of Indian Ocean reefs to declare the fourth mass bleaching event.
Scientists are conducting fly-overs of Australia's Great Barrier Reef, which has experienced six localized bleaching events since 1998, to assess the extent of the bleaching.
Aerial surveys have revealed extensive coral bleaching in the Keppels region and Capricorn-Bunker groups, according to Joanne Manning from the Australian Institute of Marine Science.
Aerial surveys are ongoing due to coral bleaching in the marine park, with plans to complete fly-overs in the coming weeks and expand to in-water coral surveys.
