World’s coral reefs face third major bleaching event on record

[knocker]

 

Coral bleaching is advancing across the world’s oceans after breaking a brief hiatus last year.

 

Researchers have discovered reefs in the Pacific and Indian oceans have whitened – and the Caribbean is expected to follow as the northern hemisphere flips to summer.

 

Rising sea temperatures on slowing trade winds are stressing the sensitive organisms to expel pigmented algae in their tissues.

“We’re in the midst of what is likely to be only the third time we’ve had coral bleaching as one big warming event sweeps through the world’s oceans,†Mark Eakin at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) told RTCC.

 

- See more at: http://www.rtcc.org/2015/06/12/worlds-coral-reefs-face-third-major-bleaching-event-on-record/#sthash.PLzKPnzy.dpuf

Edited June 13, 2015 by knocker