第2129期:Mass Coral Bleaching Expected in Near Future

The American agency that follows the risk of coral bleaching around the world says “the worst bleaching event in the history of the planet may come soon.” 追踪全球珊瑚白化风险的美国机构表示，“地球历史上最严重的白化事件可能很快就会到来。” Those are the words of Derek Manzello, head of NOAA’s Coral Reef Watch. 这是 NOAA 珊瑚礁观察负责人德里克·曼泽洛 (Derek Manzello) 的话。NOAA is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. NOAA 是国家海洋和大气管理局。 Manzello said the “entirety” of the Southern Hemisphere is “probably going to bleach this year.” The Southern Hemisphere is currently in summer and suffering from record-breaking water temperatures. 曼泽洛表示，“整个”南半球“今年可能会白化”。南半球目前正值夏季，水温破纪录。 Experts say climate change and the El Nino weather pattern are to blame for the warmer water. 专家表示，气候变化和厄尔尼诺天气模式是造成海水变暖的原因。Corals are small marine organisms that attach to mineral deposits in the ocean. Collections of the animals form ocean structures that support many kinds of sea life. 珊瑚是附着在海洋矿藏上的小型海洋生物。这些动物的集合形成了支持多种海洋生物的海洋结构。Bleaching is the term used by experts who see the once colorful coral turn white when water temperatures rise. It is a sign the animals are dying. 白化是专家们使用的术语，他们发现当水温升高时，曾经色彩缤纷的珊瑚会变成白色。这是动物即将死亡的迹象。 If corals die or go dormant, they can hurt fishing and tourism industries. 如果珊瑚死亡或休眠，就会损害渔业和旅游业。 The last large coral bleaching event around the world took place from 2014 to 2017. At the time, the Great Barrier Reef off Australia lost nearly one-third of its coral. Overall, the world lost 15 percent of its coral. 全球上一次大型珊瑚白化事件发生在2014年至2017年。当时，澳大利亚附近的大堡礁失去了近三分之一的珊瑚。总体而言，世界上 15% 的珊瑚消失了。 Corals get their color from small plants called algae that live inside them. The high temperatures stress the coral and cause them to expel the algae. When that happens, the corals lose their color. The algae help the coral stay healthy and without it, the corals face increasing risk of disease. 珊瑚的颜色来自于生活在珊瑚体内的藻类小植物。高温会给珊瑚带来压力，导致它们驱逐藻类。当这种情况发生时，珊瑚就会失去颜色。藻类帮助珊瑚保持健康，如果没有藻类，珊瑚将面临越来越大的疾病风险。Observers are concerned that 2024’s bleaching will be even worse than the last time. Scientists reported the worst coral bleaching on record in the Caribbean late last year. 观察人士担心，2024 年的白化现象将比上一次更严重。科学家报告称，去年年底加勒比地区出现了有记录以来最严重的珊瑚白化现象。 Manzello said there is coral bleaching “all over the place” in the Southern Hemisphere. He said all of the Great Barrier Reef is bleaching as are reefs in the territory of American Samoa. 曼泽洛说，南半球“到处”都存在珊瑚白化现象。他说，整个大堡礁都在白化，美属萨摩亚境内的珊瑚礁也是如此。 The El Nino weather pattern always brings warmer ocean temperatures. However, the world just experienced one of the warmest 12-month periods on record. In 2023, temperatures were 1.5 degrees Celsius higher than during pre-industrial times. Scientists say a longer period of high temperatures could cause the deaths of 90 percent of the world’s coral. 厄尔尼诺天气模式总是带来温暖的海洋温度。然而，世界刚刚经历了有记录以来最热的 12 个月之一。2023年，气温比工业化前时期高1.5摄氏度。科学家表示，较长时间的高温可能会导致世界上 90% 的珊瑚死亡。Manzello noted that scientists must look at coral in all three major oceans – Atlantic, Pacific and Indian – to call a bleaching event “global.” 曼泽洛指出，科学家必须观察大西洋、太平洋和印度洋三大洋的珊瑚，才能将白化事件称为“全球性”。 Scientists use sea surface temperature data and examine satellite imagery of reefs to measure for bleaching. Based on studies so far, Manzello said the world is “already there.” 科学家利用海面温度数据并检查珊瑚礁的卫星图像来测量珊瑚礁的白化情况。根据迄今为止的研究，曼泽洛表示世界“已经存在”。 A similar study of Indian Ocean coral is continuing. 对印度洋珊瑚的类似研究仍在继续。 Joanne Manning is a spokesperson for the Australian Institute of Marine Science. Manning said the organization has documented extensive bleaching in the Keppels area and Capricorn-Bunker groups. She said the group’s research continues. 乔安妮·曼宁是澳大利亚海洋科学研究所的发言人。曼宁说，该组织记录了吉佩尔地区和摩羯座地堡群的大规模白化现象。她说该小组的研究仍在继续。