Worst Year Ever for Coral Bleaching?

A new report warns 2009 could become the worst year ever for coral bleaching, thanks to rising ocean temperatures:

Scientists are concerned that bleaching may reach the same levels or exceed those recorded in 2005, the worst coral bleaching and disease year in Caribbean history. In parts of the eastern Caribbean, as much as 90 percent of corals bleached and over half of those died during that event.

Here’s more on the report and what it means from National Wildlife Federation climate scientist Dr. Amanda Staudt: