High temperatures bleach atoll coral

– A spike in water temperature lasting only days bleached all the coral in a South China Sea atoll, and killed 40% of the tiny organisms within weeks, researchers reported on Thursday.

The 6ºC surge at Dongsha Atoll in June 2015 was produced by a perfect storm of factors: the time of year, a record El Nino, and a rare lull in local winds and waves. Open ocean water temperature in the region was 2ºC above normal. – AFP