Garrod Taylor was ding into the water off the Honolulu coast for 20 years, and he witnessed a seismic shift not only occurred in Hawaii, but also throughout the world’s oceans.
Coral reefs – which are necessary to preserve marine life and biological diversity, as well as help in protecting coastal societies from storms – Loss of their colors And the transformation in the warming water that feeds it Climate.
Taylor said: “It is sad and frustrated.” “It was probably colored two years ago. Now everything has become white.”
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 84 % of coral reefs Now under the heat pressure that can cause bleaching. When heating the ocean, algae that gives coral reefs their vibrant colors, leaving white skeletons.
Marine scientists Greg Asner leads Allen Coral AtlasIt is a program that paints the world’s whitening in the world with the aim of preserving.
“There are some Heat waves Where are you and I may swim for a while and actually start sweating into water. “The coral reefs and other types that live on the sea bottom are more sensitive than we are,” said Asner, also the director of the World Discovery Center for Discovery and Keeping at Arizona State University.
On both the land and the sea, it was 2024 The most hot earth records everAccording to the European Center for medium -range weather forecast.
With an average ocean surface temperature 70 degrees, the high temperature speeds coral deaths. It took years to kill coral reefs. Now, it may take weeks – sometimes days.
Compared to Hawaii, the decline in coral reefs is worse in Large reef barrier And Galapagos Islands, according to Senner. The problem is the most severe in the Caribbean and Florida.
Asner said: “It is heartfelt to see these huge spaces and spaces of amazing biological diversity, just go. It is like pulling the ingredients on the TV, and it is only fixed, only empty … and the recovery is very slow to scratch.”
Without healthy and prosperous coral reefs, water creatures lose their habitats and lose coasts on the natural sea wall that can protect societies from storms – which prevents billions of dollars from damage, according to NOAA.
While the situation is comfortable, all hope is not lost.
There is a boost to educate tourists to use sunscreen that does not contain The harmful chemicals of coral reefsAnd solutions such as underwater incubation role allow coral reefs to repair and reproduce, but will take some time.
“The next general, the people who are now training, could be the ones who can see the recovery phase. If we get fossil fuel under control,” Asner said.
