The water off South Florida is 32 degrees Celsius (32°C) in mid-July, and scientists are already seeing signs of coral bleaching off Central and South America. Particularly concerning is how early in the summer we are seeing these high ocean temperatures. If the extreme heat persists, it could have dire consequences for coral reefs.

Enochs, I. (2023, July 30). Corals starting to bleach as global ocean temperatures hit record highs. Business Mirror, p. A7.