c. 1997 AD–c. 1998 AD
First confirmed global coral-bleaching event
Climate & environment · Océanos · Arrecifes de coral · Olas de calor marinas · Biodiversidad
Thermal stress affecting reefs from 1997 to 1998 culminated in the 1998 episode, recognized by NOAA as the first confirmed global coral-bleaching event, with impacts recorded across the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic basins. Intensity, mortality, and recovery varied among reefs and locations; this milestone describes observed extent rather than attributing every local response to one forcing.
Precision, calendar, and review
- Start
- year · approximate
- End
- year · approximate
- Calendar and convention
- Historical-era years; the source calendar is not identified. No conversion of days is assumed.
- Year zero
- The scale goes from 1 BCE to 1 CE without year zero. Changing era names changes labels only.
- Documentary review
- Date not recorded
Reading the date: duration of a process.
Sources
- coralreefwatch.noaa.gov (opens in a new tab)
Source provenance and scope
- Publication date
- Pending verification
- Bibliographic date checked
- 2026-09-23
The correspondence between this reference and individual claims has not yet been itemized.
This record is an editorial synthesis. Consult the sources to check claims and their limits. Chronological relationships alone do not establish causation.