Coral Reef Bleaching Worsens In 16 Districts Of Okinawa Prefecture - Asahi Shinbum

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According to the Environment Ministry's International Coral Reef Research and Monitoring Center, similar cases of bleaching have been reported this year in waters off the main island of Okinawa, Miyakojima island, Taiwan, the Philippines and Florida.

Water temperatures around Miyakojima have continuously been above 30 degrees. Bleaching has been observed in waters off 16 districts of Ishigakijima. In the Yonehara zone, for instance, coral reefs have now taken on the appearance of snow-covered forests.

Although some healthy coral could be spotted on the seabed, a lot appeared dead and were covered in seaweed.

Earlier this year, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicted that most coral around the world would be bleached if average temperatures rose by even 1 or 2 degrees.(IHT/Asahi: August 20,2007)


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http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200708200061.html