Experts say that coral reef bleaching phenomenon spreads in the oceans all over the world, "I can not return it to anymore"

Research results which investigated the changes of more than 100 coral reefs around the world show that the pace of whitening phenomenon occurred in coral reefs around the world in the world is faster than in the past, It is pointed out that there is a danger towards going to. This change is mainly caused by rising seawater temperature, and it is considered to be undergoing the aftermath of climate change where the global temperature rises.

Window to Save World's Coral Reefs Closing Rapidly
https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/01/coral-bleaching-reefs-climate-change-el-nino-environment/

Coral reef bleaching 'the new normal' and a fatal threat to ecosystems | Environment | The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jan/04/coral-reef-bleaching-the-new-normal-and-a-fatal-threat-to-ecosystems

The coral reef bleaching phenomenon is caused by coral reef corals, which are living creatures (reef corals) living in the body due to too high or too low a temperature of the sea water or a decrease in salt concentration in the sea due to the influx of fresh water It happens by losing "symbiotic algae". Corals that have lost symbiotic algae can continue to live for a while, but symbiotic alga will not be able to receive the photosynthetic products that were produced by photosynthesis, eventually dying. Although corals where symbiotic algae are restored before coral death can be recovered relatively quickly, where corals are extinct extensively, it is long to recover to coral crowds like once again It is considered to take time.

It has been confirmed that the number of coral bleaching phenomenon has increased dramatically since the 1990s. Especially in the worldwide coral bleaching phenomenon that occurred in 1998, it was hit hard by many coral reefs located near the equator.

Q11: Please tell me about whitening phenomenon that occurred in 1998 Coral reef Q & amp; A
http://www.jcrs.jp/wp/?page_id=622#q11


A detailed study of this situation was done by researchers from scientists from "ARC Center of Excellence For Coral Reef Studies" at James Cook University in Australia, which is researching coral reefs. In the research, we collected information on over 100 coral reefs around the world, such as survey reports by various governments published in the 1980s and 2016, various research data, articles covered by various media, etc. for a long period Change is being investigated.

Spatial and temporal patterns of mass bleaching of corals in the Anthropocene | Science
http://science.sciencemag.org/content/359/6371/80

In the research team led by Professor Terry Hughes of James Cook University, it is clarified that the intervals at which ocean changes causing large-scale bleaching phenomena are shortened. In particular, in the 1980s, the rise in seawater temperature, which was only about once every 25 to 30 years, has been frequented to "once in 6 years" in recent years, and corals recover from damage It has been clarified that there is not enough time to obtain the situation. Associate Professor Julia Baum of the University of Victoria, a member of the research team, says, "It is such that we are suffering from serious illness once in several years and not getting enough recovery time" It expresses the seriousness of damage to coral.

The state of the sea where coral is alive is like this. Besides bright coral reefs spreading, coral reefs become living creatures residents, so a rich ecosystem is formed.


On the other hand, it looks like she shot the same place on coral reef where whitening has progressed. The number of living things becomes sparse, and it is confirmed everywhere in the world that the ecosystem is destroyed. Furthermore, it is said that a unique "smell" will occur in the ocean where coral has died.


The following map shows the situation of coral reef in the world. "Coral reefs that received serious damage" in which coral whitening with red spots of 30% or more has been confirmed, "coral reefs damaged in part" where yellowing is observed in the range of 1% to 30%, and blue "Healthy coral reefs" are shown, but it turns out that nearly all coral reefs distributed from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean are marked in red. 50% of coral reefs are marked in red on the whole earth.


Based on this result, the research team warns that earth corals will suffer catastrophic damage unless prompt efforts are made on climate change.