Oceans warming due to anthropogenic climate change have led to the discoloration of coral reefs for the fourth time in the world.
This is stated in a joint statement by the National Administration of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research of the United States (Noaa) and the international initiative on coral reefs (MICR).
The statement notes that according to the results of the observations carried out from February 2023, it was revealed that coral reefs in 53 countries and regions were discolored. This event became the fourth case in the world.
It is noted that the discoloration of corals occurs when the corals, which are stressed, displace the algae that are their source of food and give them color. If this situation is serious and long, corals may die.
The discoloration of corals occurs from time to time in different regions, but in order to be declared on a global scale, it is necessary to document significant bleaching in each of the main oceans.
The last global bleaching of corals in the world occurred in 2014-2017.