Scientists spot several coral bleaching in Hawaii, blames rising water temperature

When algae leave when the water is too warm, it starves the coral, making it turn white. Coral bleaching is actually a normal occurrence during this time of the year but the current phenomenon is worse than scientists expected.

According to Anne Rosinski, a marine resource specialist from the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources' Division of Aquatic Resources, about 75 percent of major coral species in Kaneohe Bay have been showing signs of bleaching, ranging anywhere from mild paling to completely white. Those that have gone completely white represent corals at their most vulnerable.

Shallower waters are showing more coral bleaching though, with conditions in Oahu's windward coast especially severe.

As it is, corals already face a number of stress factors, like pollution, invasive algae, and sedimentation. With warmer waters in the picture, corals have to deal with more problems, making them more susceptible to damage.

"The corals are animals, right, they're not rocks. So what bleaching is, it's a sign of distress," explained Hawaii Director of Marine Programs for The Nature Conservancy, Kim Hum.

http://www.techtimes.com/articles/17340/20141007/scientists-spot-several-coral-bleaching-in-hawaii-blames-rising-water-temperature.htm#ixzz3FVyIdebH