Introduction: Coral Bleaching-Patterns, Processes, Causes and Consequences

Abstract

Since the first edition of this book was published in 2009, the pace of change in the world’s climate system has continued unabated with the past 3 years the warmest on record. IPCC-AR5 concluded that the human influence of climate is now clear. We have also witnessed more regional and global-scale mass coral bleaching events, culminating in the global event of 2014–2017. Mass coral bleaching, unequivocally due to global warming, is here to stay as a significant threat to the maintenance of tropical coral reef ecosystems. Our understanding of this phenomenon has also increased since 2009, and this second edition brings updated and new reviews of the many facets of coral bleaching.