2026 May Be The Year Coral Reefs Around The World Finally Collapse
ScienceAlert••world
Key Points:
- Tropical coral reefs, covering less than 1% of the seafloor but supporting 25% of marine species, have lost 30%-50% in recent decades and face a potential global tipping point in 2026 due to increasing ocean heatwaves.
- The El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle, particularly the expected El Niño in 2026, threatens to trigger widespread coral bleaching and collapse as reefs may not have sufficient recovery time after the intense 2023-24 heat stress events.
- Coral bleaching occurs when heat stress causes corals to expel symbiotic algae, leading to potential death and replacement by algae, which hinders coral recovery and can cause long-term reef degradation.
- Some coral species and deeper
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