All Coral Will Suffer Severe Bleaching When Heating Hits 1.5C: Study

"But one coral reef expert says even reefs that bleach every five years could have corals that survive"

"Almost no corals on the planet will escape severe bleaching once global heating reaches 1.5C, according to a new study of the world’s reefs.

Reefs in areas currently regarded as cooler refuges will be overwhelmed at 1.5C of heating, and just 0.2% of reefs will escape at least one bleaching outbreak every decade, according to the research.

The team of scientists from the University of Leeds, Texas Tech University and James Cook University used the latest climate model projections to confirm that 1.5C of global heating “will be catastrophic for coral reefs”."

Graham Readfearn reports for the Guardian February 1, 2022.