Coral reefs support 25% of all marine species despite covering less than 1% of the ocean. When sea temperatures rise even 1°C above seasonal averages, corals expel their algae — turning white. This is bleaching. Without recovery, they die.
This map tracks heat stress across 53 stations globally using satellite data from 1985 to present.
19981st global event — El Niño. Catastrophic Indian Ocean bleaching.
20102nd global event. Indian Ocean and Coral Triangle.
20163rd global event. Record GBR mortality — 50% of shallow coral lost.
20244th global event — largest ever recorded. Still ongoing.
Reading the map
Circles = monitoring stations. Size = severity. Lines = larval dispersal corridors. Drag the map or rotate the globe. Scrub the timeline to explore 40 years of data.
Credits
Developed by Private Yard
Data: NOAA Coral Reef Watch ·
GCRMN ·
Reef Check ·
OBIS
All data continuously updated — conditions may change daily.
Thank you to the scientists and data teams at these institutions.