---
title: "Coral Bleaching: Causes, Mechanism & UPSC Notes"
description: "Coral bleaching is the loss of algae from coral due to stress, threatening marine ecosystems and a key topic for Model UN and oceanography studies."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/coral-bleaching"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- Coral bleaching is the loss of symbiotic algae from coral tissue under environmental stress, turning corals white and leaving them vulnerable to starvation and death.
- What is the difference between coral bleaching and ocean acidification?
- Can bleached corals recover?
- Which Indian reefs are most affected by coral bleaching?
- How do scientists measure the risk of a bleaching event?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

Coral bleaching is the loss of symbiotic algae from coral tissue under environmental stress, turning corals white and leaving them vulnerable to starvation and death.

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In 2016 the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority recorded its most severe bleaching to date, with aerial surveys by the Australian Institute of Marine Science finding 93 percent of individual reefs affected during that El Niño year.

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