What is choral bleaching?

Answer 1

This is a bit misleading because the word "coral" is misspelled "choral." Coral bleaching kills living coral organisms and is very prevalent in parts of the Carribbean. The coral appears pale white (or "bleached") instead of its normal gray-green-brown hues. Coral heads are actually made up of thousands of tiny, living organisms. Coral bleaching kills the coral and produces the white, bleached appearance. The coral can recover; however, it takes many, many years for coral to grow to a sizeable mass. Coral bleaching often kills the entire coral colony. Global warming is thought to contribute to coral bleaching: the problem in the Carribbean has worsened with just a one- or two-degree increase in water temperature.