Coral Reefs Are Heading Toward , the Worst Global Mass Bleaching on Record.<br />According to U.S. government scientists, coral reefs are approaching a fourth global mass bleaching event caused by global heating.<br />According to U.S. government scientists, coral reefs are approaching a fourth global mass bleaching event caused by global heating.<br />The occurrence is expected "to be the most extensive on record," 'The Guardian' reports. .<br />According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Coral Reef Watch.<br />about 54% of ocean waters that contain coral reefs have endured enough heat stress to cause bleaching.<br />The Great Barrier Reef, the largest coral reef <br />system on the plant, also experienced <br />"its most widespread heat stress event" ever <br />this year, 'The Guardian' reports. .<br />Currently, the record for the most widespread bleaching event took place between 2014 to 2017 with 56% of the ocean's coral reefs subjected to heat stress levels severe enough to cause bleaching.<br />Dr. Derek Manzello, the Coral Reef Watch director, said that the current bleaching <br />event is set to surpass that record soon...<br />... “because the percentage of reef areas experiencing bleaching-level heat stress has been increasing by roughly 1% per week.”.<br />The bottom line is that as coral <br />reefs experience more frequent <br />and severe bleaching events, <br />the time they have to recover <br />is becoming shorter and shorter. , Dr. Derek Manzello, the Coral Reef Watch director, via 'The Guardian'.<br />Current climate models suggest <br />that every reef on planet Earth will <br />experience severe, annual bleaching <br />sometime between 2040 and 2050, Dr. Derek Manzello, the Coral Reef Watch director, via 'The Guardian'.<br />Coral reefs "provide habitat to a quarter of <br />all marine species" but are regarded as one <br />of the most susceptible ecosystems to <br />global warming, 'The Guardian' reports. .<br />Coral reefs "provide habitat to a quarter of <br />all marine species" but are regarded as one <br />of the most susceptible ecosystems to <br />global warming, 'The Guardian' reports.
