Coral reef bleaching in Gulf of Thailand shocking

[webfact]

Coral reef bleaching in Gulf shocking



BANGKOK: -- Continuous warming of sea water in the Gulf during the past several days has caused widespread coral bleaching with 80 percent of the coral reefs at Maprao island off Chumporn province having bleached, said Mr Tunya Netithammakul, director-general of National Parks, Wildlife and Plants Conservation.

Coral bleaching has been reported at Chumporn islands marine park, Khao Laemya-Koh Samet, Petra and Ang Thong marine parks with 50 percent coral reef bleaching at Ngam Noi and Kula islands, 10-25 bleaching at Bulone Don and Rang islands, 40 percent bleaching at Thalu and Kuti islands, 20 percent bleaching at Samsao island.

Ms Suthilak Veeravan, director-general of Marine and Coastal Resources Department, said the department had kept a close watch on coral reef bleaching phenomenon since 2011 and found 33 coral bleaching spots – 17 in the Gulf and 16 in the Andaman sea. The severity of the bleaching ranges from 10-80 percent.

She admitted that bleaching incidence was shocking with 80 percent coral reefs in the sea off Nakhon Si Thammarat and Pattani remaining in good conditions out of a total of 16 provinces where the conditions are worse with only 10 percent in good conditions in 11 provinces.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/163663


-- Thai PBS 2016-05-18

[thesetat2013]

Surely this can't just be caused by the warmer seas. I read it can also be caused by excessive pollution and runoff from waste as well with which seems to be quite excessive in Thailand's beaches and seas. Perhaps they can lay blame to the hot weather, but perhaps their are other factors with which Thailand refuses to admit.

[kimamey]

Surely this can't just be caused by the warmer seas. I read it can also be caused by excessive pollution and runoff from waste as well with which seems to be quite excessive in Thailand's beaches and seas. Perhaps they can lay blame to the hot weather, but perhaps their are other factors with which Thailand refuses to admit.

I don't know anything about coral bleaching but I'm surprised if can happen due to weather water over a few days. Sounds very suspect to me.

[Kru Baa]

Surely this can't just be caused by the warmer seas. I read it can also be caused by excessive pollution and runoff from waste as well with which seems to be quite excessive in Thailand's beaches and seas. Perhaps they can lay blame to the hot weather, but perhaps their are other factors with which Thailand refuses to admit.

Sure there may be some other contributing factors but the largest coral reef (the great barrier reef) Is also dying form the warming and rising acidity of the sea. Even if Thailand weren't polluting their particular corner of the sea it would make little difference. This is a global problem. The damage has been done and there is no fixing it at this point I'm afraid.

[Stokakrishna]

it must be tourists fault then...

[sebastion]

Choapraya river (Bangkok's bowel) spews that much industry waste and human garbage into the gulf I will never swim in that. Hua hin down to Surat Thani is dirty.

[kimamey]

Surely this can't just be caused by the warmer seas. I read it can also be caused by excessive pollution and runoff from waste as well with which seems to be quite excessive in Thailand's beaches and seas. Perhaps they can lay blame to the hot weather, but perhaps their are other factors with which Thailand refuses to admit.

I don't know anything about coral bleaching but I'm surprised if can happen due to weather water over a few days. Sounds very suspect to me.

Sorry that should have said "warmer water".

[wabothai]

I have never felt an ocean or a sea this warm as recently. Possibly coral doesn't like it that warm. Seems quite logical to me.

[snowgard]

Maybe it comes from all this whitening cremes and pills??? 555

When I see the dirty Pattaya water I understand why everything die!

[nakhonandy]

Surely this can't just be caused by the warmer seas. I read it can also be caused by excessive pollution and runoff from waste as well with which seems to be quite excessive in Thailand's beaches and seas. Perhaps they can lay blame to the hot weather, but perhaps their are other factors with which Thailand refuses to admit.

I don't know anything about coral bleaching but I'm surprised if can happen due to weather water over a few days. Sounds very suspect to me.

Sorry that should have said "warmer water".

You are correct that many factors impact coral bleaching. However.

Coral can only survive due to the algae on it (symbiotic relationship), it is these that have the problem with warmer water.

It has been a ridiculously hot period for the last 4 months and the water didn't cool down in the so called cool season, stayed around 28/29 degrees as opposed to dropping to 24/25 as is normal. It is now about 31/32 degrees instead of 29/30.

Even this small amount can cause the algae to leave and the coral bleaches.

Other things such as pollution have an impact of course but temperature is the major factor.

[Speedo1968]

Bleaching happened on the corals around Langkawi ( Malaysia ) some years ago. It happened within a year due to warmer sea temperatures of around one degree. The coral was white, no fish or very few and no sharks.

[MorristheRunt]

After spending many months on Koh Samet, the pumping of raw sewage directly into the ocean can;t be good for anyone.

[Stargeezr]

I want to get to parts of the world that still have coral, as I think with the rising

temperatures of the oceans, as well as the continued pollution that is sent out to the

ocean from countries that are near the coral, will be the end of a lot of coral around the

world. I have been told by a few Australians as well, that some of the damage to the

Great Barrier Reef is caused by pollution, and not just the ocean heating up.

Geezer

[Longtooth]

Surely this can't just be caused by the warmer seas. I read it can also be caused by excessive pollution and runoff from waste as well with which seems to be quite excessive in Thailand's beaches and seas. Perhaps they can lay blame to the hot weather, but perhaps their are other factors with which Thailand refuses to admit.

Huge bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef, as well. Check it out. 1 degree Centigrade increase every year for the next 15 years ought to about do it for our sad planet. Humanity has the same level of intelligence as yeast cells in a wine vat. We consume, multiply, and produce waste until it kills us. If I'm ly'n I'm dy'n.

[daveAustin]

Surely this can't just be caused by the warmer seas. I read it can also be caused by excessive pollution and runoff from waste as well with which seems to be quite excessive in Thailand's beaches and seas. Perhaps they can lay blame to the hot weather, but perhaps their are other factors with which Thailand refuses to admit.

Not everything is the Thais fault. The heat is a killer for coral, the world has been talking about it for years. Have a read.

[apetley]

I want to get to parts of the world that still have coral, as I think with the rising

temperatures of the oceans, as well as the continued pollution that is sent out to the

ocean from countries that are near the coral, will be the end of a lot of coral around the

world. I have been told by a few Australians as well, that some of the damage to the

Great Barrier Reef is caused by pollution, and not just the ocean heating up.

Geezer

Elevated sea temperature the primary cause according to these.

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/apr/19/great-barrier-reef-93-of-reefs-hit-by-coral-bleaching

http://www.bom.gov.au/oceanography/oceantemp/GBR_Coral.shtml

[Speedo1968]

I want to get to parts of the world that still have coral, as I think with the rising

temperatures of the oceans, as well as the continued pollution that is sent out to the

ocean from countries that are near the coral, will be the end of a lot of coral around the

world. I have been told by a few Australians as well, that some of the damage to the

Great Barrier Reef is caused by pollution, and not just the ocean heating up.

Geezer

Back in the late 60's early 70's raw sewage used to be pumped out via Cabbage Tree Bay next to Manly Beach.

Depending on the waves this could wash around the heads between the two beaches.

Although this could be a dangerous area to be near, the surf could be good and occasionally one could end a little too close to the heads.

The same area could be busy with bluebottle swarms too.

Nowadays these heads have become a popular surfing break.

Unfortunately where / when money is concerned the environment will ALWAYS be ignored, then as it is now.

[kimamey]

Surely this can't just be caused by the warmer seas. I read it can also be caused by excessive pollution and runoff from waste as well with which seems to be quite excessive in Thailand's beaches and seas. Perhaps they can lay blame to the hot weather, but perhaps their are other factors with which Thailand refuses to admit.

I don't know anything about coral bleaching but I'm surprised if can happen due to weather water over a few days. Sounds very suspect to me.

Sorry that should have said "warmer water".

You are correct that many factors impact coral bleaching. However.

Coral can only survive due to the algae on it (symbiotic relationship), it is these that have the problem with warmer water.

It has been a ridiculously hot period for the last 4 months and the water didn't cool down in the so called cool season, stayed around 28/29 degrees as opposed to dropping to 24/25 as is normal. It is now about 31/32 degrees instead of 29/30.

Even this small amount can cause the algae to leave and the coral bleaches.

Other things such as pollution have an impact of course but temperature is the major factor.

That sounds reasonable however the report mentions several days which doesn't sound credible. My guess is inaccurate reporting and this is due to longer term warming as you say.

[nakhonandy]

I expect Kimamey you are correct and the reporting is up to it's usual standard.

However as a dive instructor (part time) I try to teach my students about this stuff as without knowledge we can do nothing.

As many seem interested here is a link to a manual from Project Aware covering this and other major issues regarding the marine environment.

http://www.projectaware.org/sites/default/files/70241_AWOurWorld_OurWaterVer1_02.pdf