‘Slumping’ afflicted soft corals around a South Korean island in 2024. Will it return this year?
In 2024, soft corals around Jeju Island in South Korea experienced a "slumping" event, where they lost shape, drooped, and died in large numbers, likely due to extreme heat, heavy rainfall, and changes in water quality. Scientists are still studying the exact causes, but the event was linked to unusually high sea temperatures. In 2025 and early 2026, no widespread slumping was observed, though concerns remain about potential impacts from a predicted "Super El Niño" later this year. Researchers are monitoring the situation closely to better understand and protect these vulnerable ecosystems.
Soft corals around Jeju Island in South Korea slumped and died in 2024 due to extreme heat and changes in water quality.
Scientists are concerned that a predicted "Super El Niño" could cause similar damage to soft corals later this year.
This story highlights the impact of climate change on marine ecosystems and the efforts of scientists and conservationists to understand and protect them.
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