Science AMA Series: Hi, we’re NOAA scientists Jennifer Koss, Mark Eakin, and Randy Kosaki. We are here to talk about the global coral bleaching event that we are experiencing right now. Ask Us Anything!

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Hi Reddit! I’m Jennifer Koss, director of the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program. I’m Mark Eakin, a coral scientist with the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program and coordinator for NOAA’s Coral Reef Watch. And I’m Randy Kosaki, deputy superintendent for research and field operations at the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.

We’re here to answers your questions on the longest global coral bleaching event on record and what we can, and are, doing to help.

Did you know that in October 2015, NOAA declared the third ever global coral bleaching event on record? Since then, we’ve reported that it could extend well into 2017. This bleaching event is hitting U.S. coral reefs disproportionately hard. Here at NOAA, we estimate that as of March 31, 2016, all U.S. coral reefs have been exposed to ocean conditions that can cause corals to bleach.

Coral bleaching and disease, brought on by climate change and coupled with events like the current El Niño, are the largest and most pervasive threats to coral reefs around the world.

While this news has us worried, don’t count corals out! They are remarkably resilient organisms. Here at NOAA we are working with marine resource managers and communities all over the US and internationally to reduce local stressors—like fishing pressure and pollution—to promote reef health and help these amazing creatures resist or recover from bleaching events.

We’re here today to discuss the latest information on this bleaching event, what happens to corals when they bleach, explore what this all means, and identify what NOAA scientists are doing to address this threat.

We’ll be here from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. today to answer your questions on corals and the ongoing bleaching event. Ask us anything!

">Science AMA Series: Hi, we’re NOAA scientists Jennifer Koss, Mark Eakin, and Randy Kosaki. We are here to talk about the global coral bleaching event that we are experiencing right now. Ask Us Anything!