Aquatic life from coral reefs to fish in the Thailand’s eastern gulf coast is suffering as sea surface temperatures hit record highs this month amid a regional heatwave, worrying scientists and local communities.

The once vibrant and colourful corals, about five metres (16 feet) underwater, have turned white in a phenomenon known as coral bleaching, a sign that their health was deteriorating, due to higher water temperatures, scientists say.

Sea surface temperatures in the Eastern Gulf of Thailand reached 32.73°C (90.91°F) earlier this month while underwater readings are slightly warmer, with dive computers showing around 33°C, data shows.

If water temperatures do not cool, more coral will die, Lalita said.

“It’s global boiling, not just global warming,” she said.

  • Leg@lemmy.worldEnglish
    341·
    6 months ago

    This kinda news doesn’t feel any better to hear now than it did when I was a child. The people who can do something about it don’t care. We mourn our lost future. The cycle continues.

    • HubertManne@kbin.social
      18·
      6 months ago

      im old enough that when I was a child things where getting done. that was in the 70’s though before reagan democrats.

  • Shawdow194@kbin.social
    16·
    6 months ago

    To put it in perspective a 1f change in water temperature is like a 1f degree change in our bodies. A fever for a short time, no big deal. Too long and you die

    These creatures use the ocean to regulate their temperature. It needs to stay consistent for them like how we have a stable 98.6f

  • IsThisAnAI@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    6 months ago

    Folks who say this shit really don’t understand how people process information and create trust.

    It’s not boiling and many folks who read this instead of having a delta to change their behavior will just ignore it because a researcher wanted a quote.