Coral bleaching

1. The colours on the animation represent the sea surface temperature this in
turn determines the algae growth. The different colours represent the type of
algae on the coral. When the coral expels its algal tissue it becomes white
due to the calcium carbonate.
2. The sea surface temperature hotspots start in the south but gradually move
towards the north in the course of the year. There is the greatest are of
temperature hotspots in March.
3. May 1998
4. When the sea surface temperature is warmer by approximately 1 oc, the
region becomes a potential coral bleaching hotspot.

Coral bleaching in Indian Ocean 1998

Extremely high ocean temperatures migrated from south to north throughout the
Indian Ocean in the first six months of 1998 which caused considerable amounts
of coral bleaching.

Bleached coral

When corals are stressed by changes in conditions such as temperature, light, or

nutrients, they expel the symbiotic algae living in their tissues, causing them to
turn completely white due to calcium carbonate forming. Coral are subject to
mortality as they are under more stress but can survive through a bleaching
event.
Coral bleaching is a generalized stress response of corals and can be caused by a
number of biotic and abiotic factors, including:

increased (most commonly), or reduced water temperatures[5][6][7]

oxygen starvation caused by an increase in zooplankton levels as a result
of overfishing[8]
increased solar irradiance (photosynthetically active radiation and
ultraviolet band light)[9]

changes in water chemistry (in particular acidification)[10][11]

increased sedimentation (due to silt runoff)[12]
bacterial infections[13]
changes in salinity[14]
herbicides[15]
low tide and exposure[16]
cyanide fishing[17]
elevated sea levels due to global warming (Watson)
mineral dust from African dust storms caused by drought[18]
four common sunscreen ingredients, that are nonbiodegradable, and can
wash off from tourists swimming, snorkeling, or diving

For the Indian Ocean in 1998 there were adverse weather conditions leading to
higher temperatures resulting in coral bleaching.