--- title: What is Coral Bleaching? | TIME description: Watch an animated explainer about coral bleaching canonical: https://time.com/video/jJfzjrZU/ og:title: What is Coral Bleaching? og:description: Watch an animated explainer about coral bleaching og:url: https://time.com/video/jJfzjrZU/ og:image: https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/jJfzjrZU/poster.jpg?width=720 og:type: video.other twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: What is Coral Bleaching? twitter:description: Watch an animated explainer about coral bleaching twitter:image: https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/jJfzjrZU/poster.jpg?width=720 --- # What is Coral Bleaching? > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: August 2026. ## TIME Subscription: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition TIME is a general-interest news organization founded in 1923, reporting on the people, ideas and issues shaping the world. 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They are at time.com/newsletters and are separate from a paid subscription. ## Video: What is Coral Bleaching? [Watch (HLS stream): What is Coral Bleaching?](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/jJfzjrZU.m3u8) (1:25)  _Published 2016-09-15. Watch an animated explainer about coral bleaching_ --- Oct 11, 2023 9:05 PM UTC --- ## More From This Series [All Videos](https://time.com/video/) [Extreme Heatwaves Killed Half of the Great Barrier Reef's Coral in 2 Years, Study Says](/video/PNed7vek/) ### Extreme Heatwaves Killed Half of the Great Barrier Reef's Coral in 2 Years, Study Says [Coral Reefs Entangled with Platics Are More Likely to be Diseased](/video/CRa4BZg5/) ### Coral Reefs Entangled with Platics Are More Likely to be Diseased [Coral Bleaching Threatens Great Barrier Reef](/video/SEbIcfln/) ### Coral Bleaching Threatens Great Barrier Reef --- ## Transcript [ SOUND ] What is coral bleaching? The corals that make up reefs around the world may look like one giant organism, but they're actually an ecosystem with many small creatures working together. Thousands of tiny jellyfish- like animal called polyps, connect together to form colonies. These colonies host algae which provide corals with food As well as their vivid color through the process of photosynthesis. A combination of global warming, water pollution and other environmental disturbances can stress corals, leading them to expel the tiny algae that they need to survive. The process, called bleaching, leaves only a white skeleton where before there were vibrant colors. Bleached corals aren't necessarily dead. Restoring cool water temperatures or removing pollutants can help fragile corals recover. But without improving conditions, they essentially die. Why should you care about coral bleaching? About 25 % of marine life depends on the habitat created by coral reefs. When 500 million people worldwide rely on reefs for food, tourism, employment, even protection from extreme weather events and nearly $ 30 billion in estimated reef value is at stake. Global bleaching events, once a rarity, are happening more often with greater intensity. We're currently in what scientists say is the worst bleaching event on record and it could last into next year. Unless we do something soon, coral reefs could go from the cradle of marine life To its grave. 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