Underwater Umbrellas Reduce—and Reverse—Coral Bleaching in the Caribbean

Scientists Invent Underwater Umbrellas to Protect Coral Reefs—and It Appears to Be Working

The world's coral reefs are in crisis, but a crafty solution could help.

Underwater umbrellas for coral reefs could help protect against heat damage

High sea temperatures driven by the climate crisis damage corals, bleaching them ghostly white and killing them. While restoration of dead reefs is possible, it's difficult and expensive, and restored corals are vulnerable to future heat waves. Finding ways to stop or slow the damage to existing reefs is crucial.

Underwater Umbrellas Reduce—and Reverse—Coral Bleaching in the Caribbean

When corals get too hot, the algae that feed them can disappear, leaving them bleached. Blocking the Sun could help.

Underwater umbrellas for coral reefs could help protect against heat damage, study finds

Temporary shades placed over especially vulnerable Caribbean corals mitigate and even partly reverse bleaching driven by marine heatwaves