Scientists Are Giving Coral Reefs Underwater Umbrellas
Monday, October 5, 2026150 words2 minutes2075 reads
Researchers tested underwater shades at Newfound Harbor in the Florida Keys. They put 20 shades over communities of two kinds of brain coral. The shades were made with PVC pipe, foam, and special cloth.
The shades blocked about 60% of sunlight. From August to November 2024, the researchers watched the colour of the corals. During that time, sea temperatures were above the local bleaching threshold for at least 61 days.
The shaded corals showed less bleaching. Some corals had already started to turn pale before the shades arrived, but they recovered colour after they were shaded. Nearby corals without shade were used for comparison.
The shades are a small-scale solution. They cannot protect every reef or cool the ocean. The team found that the shades stayed clean and needed little care. Researchers say they may help save high-priority corals, such as large or rare corals, during dangerous marine heat waves.
