El Niño Intensifies, Threatens Coral Reefs in Indian Ocean
• The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has confirmed that El Niño is now firmly established, with sea surface temperatures rising across the central-eastern equatorial Pacific. This phenomenon is expected to persist through September-November 2026 and December 2026-February 2027, peaking towards the end of the year. El Niño events are closely linked to global coral bleaching events, which have increased in frequency and severity since
• Indian coral reefs, particularly in regions like Lakshadweep, have been significantly affected by repeated marine heatwaves, with coral cover declining from 37% to under 20% over the past 24 years. The ongoing 2026-27 El Niño is expected to exacerbate these impacts, further narrowing the recovery window for coral reefs.
Impact & Risks
The intensifying El Niño poses a severe threat to coral reefs in the Indian Ocean, including those in India. Repeated marine heatwaves have left reefs with insufficient time to recover, leading to long-term decline. Lakshadweep has been particularly affected, with up to 37% of coral cover bleached or dead in recent years. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warns that 70-90% of warm water coral reefs could disappear even if global warming is limited to 1.5°C. This could have cascading effects on marine biodiversity and the livelihoods of communities dependent on these ecosystems.
Related News