Coral bleaching likely in Caribbean this year

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Coral bleaching is likely in the Caribbean in 2010, according to new research. With temperatures above-average all year, NOAA's models show a strong potential for bleaching in the southern and southeastern Caribbean through October that could be as severe as in 2005 when over 80 percent of corals bleached and over 40 percent died at many sites across the Caribbean.

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[Triggerman77]

Man that SUX!!!! Hopefully it will not be as bad as 05 fingers crossed

 

[divewsharks]

I was in DR last month, water was 86deg at depth in many areas, a few area's had some cool water currents passing thru (which you quickly notice). At the time, the reefs were quite healthy and you could see lots of new growth going on, which was a quite different from just the year before. Hopefully its not as bad as projected, it was nice to actually see healthy reefs for a change, my last few trips (I go to the Caribbean at least once a year) the reefs have been in distress.

 

[Nemo8710]

+1 , I hope things turn out for the good.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Yea I hope it isn't as bad as predicted.

 

[Lazys Coral House]

I could be completely wrong here but my hypothesis is it is just a cyclical natural process. Regardless of the cause, be it warmer or cooler temperatures, corals die and it creates the foundation for the new reef. Some where new reefs are being born where in another spot old reefs are dying. Death gives way to new and a more resilient breed that are able to handle the current conditions. Similar to wildfires giving way to new fertile ground for new life.