Americas

The water off South Florida is over 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 Celsius) in mid-July, and scientists are already seeing signs of coral bleaching off Central and South America. Particularly concerning is how early in the summer we are seeing these high ocean temperatures. If the extreme heat persists, it could have dire consequences for coral reefs. Just like humans, corals can handle some degree of stress, but the longer it lasts, the more harm it can do. Corals can’t move to cooler areas when water temperatures rise to dangerous levels. They are stuck in it. For those that are particularly sensitive to temperature stress, that can be devastating. A transplanted coral in the Port of Miami that was healthy in early 2023 had bleached in the warm water by July 11, 2023. NOAA/University of Miami I lead the Coral Program at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Atlantic Oceanogra...