Military Space News
WATER WORLD
Thailand closes island after coral bleaching found
Thailand closes island after coral bleaching found
by AFP Staff Writers
Bangkok (AFP) May 9, 2024
An island in southern Thailand was closed on Thursday after the discovery of extensive coral bleaching, the national parks office said.

Bleaching, which occurs when algae that live inside corals is expelled, is usually caused by higher than normal ocean temperatures and increased ultraviolet radiation.

Corals can recover from bleaching over time, once only temperatures fall and conditions in the ocean return to normal.

The closure comes after a deadly heatwave caused temperatures to soar across Thailand and Asia in recent weeks.

The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) said Pling Island and the coral reefs around Sirinart National Park in Phuket would be temporarily closed due to extensive coral bleaching caused by rising seawater temperatures.

The department is also monitoring national parks at Koh Chang, Koh Samet, Chumphon, Koh Surin, Phang Nga Bay, the Phi Phi islands and Lanta.

The news comes after the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) warned last month that the world is currently experiencing its second major coral bleaching event in 10 years.

Reef systems from Australia to Florida are struggling following months of record-breaking ocean heat, the NOAA said.

Park closures occur periodically in Thailand, which was visited by 28 million tourists in 2023, many of them coming to enjoy the country's pristine beaches.

In 2018 Maya Bay, the Thai island made famous by Hollywood film "The Beach", was shut for more than four months to allow its coral and sea life to recover after it was exhausted by hordes of tourists.

Scientists have long warned human-induced climate change will produce more frequent, longer and more intense heatwaves.

While the El Nino phenomenon is helping drive this year's exceptionally warm weather, Asia is also warming faster than the global average, according to the UN's World Meteorological Organisation.

Related Links
Water News - Science, Technology and Politics

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
WATER WORLD
Milking venom from Australia's deadly marine animals
Cairns, Australia (AFP) May 8, 2024
Imagine feeling like an elephant is sitting on your chest, you can't breathe, there's a sense of impending doom and the pain is so intense you want to die. You've just been stung by a tiny Irukandji jellyfish. While you are unlikely to die, toxicologist Jamie Seymour of James Cook University in Australia says you'll wish you had. He should know - he's been stung 11 times. But Seymour's job is riskier than most: milking sea creatures of their venom to create life-saving antivenoms. D ... read more

WATER WORLD
Pentagon chief pushes for donation of more Patriot systems to Kyiv

France orders firms to prioritise anti-air missile orders

Spain says will send Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine

Lockheed Martin hands over advanced radar system to Missile Defense Agency

WATER WORLD
Kremlin says Ukraine targeting forces in Crimea with U.S.-made mobile missiles

Russian missile attack injures 13 in Ukraine's Odesa: mayor

Russian missile attack kills three in Ukraine's Odesa: mayor

Toll in Russian strike on Odesa rises to five

WATER WORLD
Elsight boosts Indago 4 UAS with advanced BVLOS communications

Amnesty says Somali strikes with Turkish drones killed civilians

Russia fires nine drones at Ukraine, damages hotel in city of Mykolaiv

Italy's navy downs drone headed for Red Sea merchant vessel: ministry

WATER WORLD
CesiumAstro provides multi-beam Ka-band payloads for Rocket Lab under Tranche 2 contract

Rocket Lab Advances SDA Satellite Program with New Subcontractor Partnerships

Enhancing connectivity and readiness at Space Systems Command

Kratos and SES showcase new virtualized SATCOM system for US Army

WATER WORLD
The Advantages of Specialized Training in Disaster Management

German conservatives vote for compulsory military service

Denmark increases military aid to Ukraine by $633 million

20 Cambodian soldiers killed in ammunition base explosion

WATER WORLD
Struggling French tech group Atos weighs financial lifelines

U.S. blacklists Hezbollah financier's sanctions-evasions network

China says to take 'necessary measures' after fresh US sanctions

U.S. sanctions nearly 300 targets aiding Russia's war against Ukraine

WATER WORLD
Charting the Geopolitical Landscape of the Late 2020s Part Two

Charting the Geopolitical Landscape of the Late 2020s Part One

In Orban's Hungary, Xi to see China's best friend in EU

Biden, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis celebrate 20 years of NATO membership

WATER WORLD
Researchers unveil novel technique for creating atomically thin nanoscrolls

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2026 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.