‘Dread’: Coral scientists fear bleaching El Nino could bring
Coral scientists are expressing concern over the potential impact of a strong El Nino weather system in 2026 on already weakened coral reefs. The phenomenon is associated with warmer seawater, which can lead to mass bleaching events that threaten coral survival. With rising sea temperatures and repeated bleaching, the long-term outlook for coral ecosystems remains grim.
- ▪The arrival of a strong El Nino in 2026 could devastate coral reefs worldwide.
- ▪Every global coral bleaching event has occurred during an El Nino year.
- ▪Up to 50 percent of the world's coral has been lost in recent decades.
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‘Dread’: Coral scientists fear bleaching El Nino could bringSign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inboxPeriodic, localised bleaching is a natural and even healthy process for reefs. The problem is repeated mass bleaching, which has become the norm with rising sea temperatures caused by climate change.PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: UNSPLASHPublished May 22, 2026, 10:45 AMUpdated May 22, 2026, 10:45 AMBANGKOK – The arrival of a potentially powerful El Nino weather system in 2026 could devastate coral reefs around the world already weakened by back-to-back rounds of bleaching, scientists warn.Forecasters are increasingly convinced that 2026 will see a return of the weather phenomenon, and that it could be exceptionally strong.El Nino, which occurs around every two to seven years, shifts…
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