GLOBAL Coral BLEACHING Disaster: Scientists Sound The Alarm on Vanishing Reefs
— Coral reefs around the globe are facing their worst bleaching event ever. Experts say 84% of reefs have been hit in the past year, with many now lifeless and white. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has expanded its alert system to track this growing crisis. Soaring ocean temperatures, blamed on climate change and El Niño, are at the heart of the problem. Key areas like the Caribbean and Australia’s Great Barrier Reef have lost up to 40% of their coral. Even places once considered safe are now showing signs of damage. Scientists warn that if ocean warming keeps up, these bleaching events could become permanent. This would hurt marine life, weaken coastal protection, and impact millions who depend on healthy reefs for food or work. Environmental groups call for urgent action to cut emissions and protect what’s left of our reefs. Without it, we risk losing one of nature’s most important resources forever.