US Agency Warns: Mass Coral Bleaching Expected in Near Future

US Agency Warns: Mass Coral Bleaching² Expected in Near Future

　　The American agency that follows the risk of coral bleaching around the world says "the worst bleaching event in the history of the planet may come soon."

　　Those are the words of Derek Manzello, head of NOAA's Coral Reef Watch.

　　NOAA is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric³ Administration.

　　Manzello said the "entirety" of the Southern Hemisphere is "probably going to bleach¹ this year." The Southern Hemisphere is currently in summer and suffering from record-breaking water temperatures.

　　Experts say climate change and the El Nino weather pattern are to blame for the warmer water.

　　Sensitive organisms

　　Corals are small marine⁴ organisms that attach to mineral deposits in the ocean. Collections of the animals form ocean structures that support many kinds of sea life.

　　Bleaching is the term used by experts who see the once colorful coral turn white when water temperatures rise. It is a sign the animals are dying.

　　If corals die or go dormant⁵, they can hurt fishing and tourism industries.

　　The last large coral bleaching event around the world took place from 2014 to 2017. At the time, the Great Barrier Reef off Australia lost nearly one-third of its coral. Overall, the world lost 15 percent of its coral.

　　Corals get their color from small plants called algae⁶ that live inside them. The high temperatures stress the coral and cause them to expel the algae. When that happens, the corals lose their color. The algae help the coral stay healthy and without it, the corals face increasing risk of disease.

　　Observers are concerned that 2024's bleaching will be even worse than the last time. Scientists reported the worst coral bleaching on record in the Caribbean late last year.

　　Manzello said there is coral bleaching "all over the place" in the Southern Hemisphere. He said all of the Great Barrier Reef is bleaching as are reefs in the territory of American Samoa.

　　The El Nino weather pattern always brings warmer ocean temperatures. However, the world just experienced one of the warmest 12-month periods on record. In 2023, temperatures were 1.5 degrees Celsius⁷ higher than during pre-industrial times. Scientists say a longer period of high temperatures could cause the deaths of 90 percent of the world's coral.

　　Manzello noted⁸ that scientists must look at coral in all three major oceans – Atlantic, Pacific and Indian – to call a bleaching event "global."

　　Scientists use sea surface temperature data and examine satellite imagery of reefs to measure for bleaching. Based on studies so far, Manzello said the world is "already there."

　　A similar study of Indian Ocean coral is continuing.

　　Joanne Manning is a spokesperson for the Australian Institute of Marine Science. Manning said the organization has documented extensive bleaching in the Keppels area and Capricorn-Bunker groups. She said the group's research continues.

　　Words in This Story

　　entirety –adj. everything, or the full amount

　　deposit –n. a substance left behind, or created during a chemical reaction

　　dormant –adj. not actively⁹ growing but still alive, such as when grass turns brown in the winter

　　expel –v. to push something out

1 bleach   

vt.使漂白；vi.变白；n.漂白剂

参考例句：

• These products don't bleach the hair.这些产品不会使头发变白。
• Did you bleach this tablecloth?你把这块桌布漂白了吗？

2 bleaching   

漂白法，漂白

参考例句：

• Moderately weathered rock showed more intense bleaching and fissuring in the feldspars. 中等风化岩石则是指长石有更为强烈的变白现象和裂纹现象。
• Bleaching effects are very strong and show on air photos. 退色效应非常强烈，并且反映在航空象片上。

3 atmospheric   

adj.大气的，空气的；大气层的；大气所引起的

参考例句：

• Sea surface temperatures and atmospheric circulation are strongly coupled.海洋表面温度与大气环流是密切相关的。
• Clouds return radiant energy to the surface primarily via the atmospheric window.云主要通过大气窗区向地表辐射能量。

4 marine   

adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵

参考例句：

• Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

5 dormant   

adj.暂停活动的；休眠的；潜伏的

参考例句：

• Many animals are in a dormant state during winter.在冬天许多动物都处于睡眠状态。
• This dormant volcano suddenly fired up.这座休眠火山突然爆发了。

6 algae   

n.水藻，海藻

参考例句：

• Most algae live in water.多数藻类生长在水中。
• Algae grow and spread quickly in the lake.湖中水藻滋蔓。

7 Celsius   

adj.摄氏温度计的，摄氏的

参考例句：

• The temperature tonight will fall to seven degrees Celsius.今晚气温将下降到七摄氏度。
• The maximum temperature in July may be 36 degrees Celsius.七月份最高温度可能达到36摄氏度。

8 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

9 actively   

adv.积极地，勤奋地

参考例句：

• During this period all the students were actively participating.在这节课中所有的学生都积极参加。
• We are actively intervening to settle a quarrel.我们正在积极调解争执。