Already, scientists have reported widespread coral bleaching along parts of the roughly 360-mile-long reef, the third largest on the planet. He said the state has experienced eight coral bleaching events since 1987, but typically they haven’t occurred until at least mid-August. When water temperatures are too warm, corals push out the algae living in their tissues, triggering a bleaching event. Water samples off Vaca Key were showing water temperatures at 93.4 degrees as of Tuesday, according to NOAA’s National Data Buoy Center. “We are seeing extensive coral bleaching and mortality due to these elevated water temperatures,” Montoya-Maya said.

Source: Washington Post July 27, 2023 12:43 UTC