News World What endangers one of world's most vibrant Hawaii's coral reefs

What endangers one of world's most vibrant Hawaii's coral reefs

Just four years after a major marine heat wave killed nearly half of Hawaii's coral reefs, researchers are predicting another round of hot water will cause some of the worst coral bleaching the region has ever seen. Here's what is endangering the world's most abundant and vibrant coral reefs:

Rising pacific temperature

In this Sept. 12, 2019 photo, fish swim near bleaching coral in Kahala'u Bay in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. Just four years after a major marine heat wave killed nearly half of this coastline’s coral, federal researchers are predicting another round of hot water will cause some of the worst coral bleaching the region has ever seen. (AP Photo/Caleb Jones)

Forecasters expect high temperatures in the north Pacific will continue to pump heat into Hawaii's waters well into October.

"Temperatures have been warm for quite a long time," Gove said. "It's not just how hot it is — it's how long those ocean temperatures stay warm."
Ocean temperatures are not uniformly warm across the state, Gove noted. Local wind patterns, currents and even features on land can create hot spots in the water.

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