Cooler but still well above normal this week

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

Rising ocean temperatures killed about 14 percent of the world's coral reefs in just under a decade, according to a new analysis from the 

Put another way: The amount of coral lost between 2008 and 2019 is equivalent to more than all of the living coral in Australia.

The report — the first of its kind since 2008 — found that warming caused by climate change, overfishing, coastal development and declining water quality has placed coral reefs around the world under "relentless stress."

But it also found signs of hope, noting that many of these reefs are resilient and may be able to recover if immediate action is taken to stabilize emissions and fight future warming.

"People around the world depend on healthy coral reefs and the services they provide for food, income, recreation, and protection from storms," said Jennifer Koss, director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Coral Reef Conservation Program. "It is possible to turn the tide on the losses we are seeing, but doing so relies on us as a global community making more environmentally conscious decisions in our everyday lives."

 of coral reef health ever undertaken: "The analysis used data from nearly two million observations from more than 12,000 collection sites in 73 countries over a time span of 40 years (1978 to 2019), representing the work over over 300 scientists."

The study covers 10 coral reef-bearing regions around the world, and identifies "coral bleaching events caused by elevated sea surface temperatures" as the biggest driver of coral loss. Researchers looked at levels of both algae and live hard coral cover, a scientifically based indicator of reef health.

They also observed some recovery in 2019, with coral reefs regaining 2% of their coral cover.

"This indicates that coral reefs are still resilient and if pressures on these critical ecosystems ease, then they have the capacity to recover, potentially within a decade, to the healthy, flourishing reefs that were prevalent pre-1998," 

On the flip side, continued warming could take an even greater toll.

Sharp declines in coral cover corresponded with increases in sea surface temperature, which experts say shows coral's vulnerability to spikes — a phenomenon they say is likely to happen more frequently as the planet continues to warm.

 about why coral reefs are so crucial, and exactly how much of a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions is needed to preserve them.

Environmental News

Climate

Rachel Treisman

Author

Rising ocean temperatures killed 14 percent of the world's coral reefs, a new analysis finds. But it's not without hope: Experts say many can recover if immediate action is taken to curb future warming.

A new report shows just how much climate change is killing the world's coral reefs

Go Deeper.

Like this?

News you can use in your inbox