Unprecedented Discovery: Coral Reef Bleaching Found at Record Depths

Scientists from the University of Plymouth have discovered the deepest known evidence of coral reef bleaching, more than 90 meters below the surface of the Indian Ocean. The damage, attributed to a 30% rise in sea temperatures caused by the Indian Ocean dipole, harmed up to 80% of the reefs in certain parts of the seabed, at depths previously thought to be resilient to ocean warming. This serves as a stark warning of the harm caused by rising ocean temperatures and climate change. The researchers used remotely operated underwater vehicles equipped with cameras to monitor the coral health below the ocean surface and found that while shallow water reefs showed no harm, deeper reefs were bleaching. The study highlights the vulnerability of mesophotic coral ecosystems to thermal stress and the need for increased monitoring of the deep ocean.