Thermal refugia against coral bleaching throughout the northern Red Sea

Abstract

Tropical reefs have been impacted by thermal anomalies caused by global warming that induced coral bleaching and mortality events globally. However, there have only been very few recordings of bleaching within the Red Sea despite covering a latitudinal range of 15° and consequently it has been considered a region that is less sensitive to thermal anomalies. We therefore examined historical patterns of sea surface temperature ( SST ) and associated anomalies (1982–2012) and compared warming trends with a unique compilation of corresponding coral bleaching records from throughout the region. These data indicated that the northern Red Sea has not experienced mass bleaching despite intensive Degree Heating Weeks ( DHW ) of >15°C‐weeks. Severe bleaching was restricted to the central and southern Red Sea where DHW s have been more frequent, but far less intense (DHWs 8°C‐weeks), and bleaching was restricted to the central and southern Red Sea despite the lower thermal stress ( DHW s

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