"Rising Temperatures Push Global Coral Reef Heat Stress Monitor to Add New Alerts"

The US government's Coral Reef Watch program has added three new alert categories to its warning system for heat stress on coral reefs due to unprecedented levels of heat stress causing bleaching and coral mortality. The changes reflect the increasing severity of heat stress on coral reefs, with the highest alert level now indicating a risk of "near complete mortality" of all corals. The adjustments come as a response to the pervasive impacts of global heating on coral reef ecosystems, highlighting the urgent need to address the escalating risks posed by climate change to marine biodiversity.