Sad news, but predictable as humanity continues to offer micro-solutions to macro-problems...

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/apr/23/coral-reef-bleaching-worst-global-event-on-record

The world’s coral reefs have been pushed into “uncharted territory” by the worst global bleaching event on record that has now hit more than 80% of the planet’s reefs, scientists have warned.

Reefs in at least 82 countries and territories have been exposed to enough heat to turn corals white since the global event started in January 2023, the latest data from the US government’s Coral Reef Watch shows.

(...)

The 84% of reefs exposed to bleaching-level heat in this ongoing fourth event compares with 68% during the third event, which lasted from 2014 to 2017, 37% in 2010 and 21% in the first event in 1998.

Even reefs considered by scientists to be refuges from the ocean’s rising levels of heat have been bleached, Dr Derek Manzello, the director of Coral Reef Watch, said.

“The fact that so many reef areas have been impacted, including purported thermal refugia like Raja Ampat and the Gulf of Eilat, suggests that ocean warming has reached a level where there is no longer any safe harbour from coral bleaching and its ramifications,” he said.

Edited April 23Apr 23 by bghazzal

NOOA Current Global Bleaching: Status Update & Data Submission - Updated: April 21, 2025

https://www.coralreefwatch.noaa.gov/satellite/research/coral_bleaching_report.php

On April 15, 2024, NOAA (in partnership with the International Coral Reef Initiative) confirmed the world is in the midst of its 4th global coral bleaching event. From 1 January 2023 to 20 April 2025, bleaching-level heat stress has impacted 83.7% of the world’s coral reef area and mass coral bleaching has been documented in at least 83 countries and territories.

The ongoing global coral bleaching event is the biggest to date. The previous record was during the 3rd global coral bleaching event, which occurred from 2014-2017, when 68.2% of the world's reef area experienced bleaching-level heat stress. The 1st and 2nd global coral bleaching events occurred in 1998 and 2010, respectively.

Animation of NOAA CRW's Daily 5km Bleaching Alert Area Maximum product, for the period January 1, 2023 - April 20, 2025

Edited April 23Apr 23 by bghazzal

1 hour ago, bghazzal said:

NOOA Current Global Bleaching: Status Update & Data Submission - Updated: April 21, 2025

https://www.coralreefwatch.noaa.gov/satellite/research/coral_bleaching_report.php

On April 15, 2024, NOAA (in partnership with the International Coral Reef Initiative) confirmed the world is in the midst of its 4th global coral bleaching event. From 1 January 2023 to 20 April 2025, bleaching-level heat stress has impacted 83.7% of the world’s coral reef area and mass coral bleaching has been documented in at least 83 countries and territories.

The ongoing global coral bleaching event is the biggest to date. The previous record was during the 3rd global coral bleaching event, which occurred from 2014-2017, when 68.2% of the world's reef area experienced bleaching-level heat stress. The 1st and 2nd global coral bleaching events occurred in 1998 and 2010, respectively.

Animation of NOAA CRW's Daily 5km Bleaching Alert Area Maximum product, for the period January 1, 2023 - April 20, 2025

https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/03/12/noaa-layoffs-trump-federal-government-cuts/82305736007/#:~:text=NOAA%20lays%20off%201%2C000%20employees%20as%20President%20Trump%20escalates%20federal%20cuts

International Coral Reef Initiative page on the subject:

https://icriforum.org/4gbe-2025/

The most intense global coral bleaching event on record is still ongoing, according to scientists. One year on from the official declaration of the fourth global coral bleaching event by the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), bleaching alerts continue to develop across the world.