Close-up shot of colorful hard corals dying from bleaching

Silent Beauty of Bleached Corals.

This close-up shot reveals an array of hard corals in various stages of bleaching, with once-colorful structures now faded and ghostly. The corals display complex shapes—branching formations, bulbous clusters, and intricate textures—highlighting the diversity of species affected. Some corals have retained faint blue hues, contrasting with the stark white skeletons of others, which appear brittle and hollowed out. The video clip shows the gradual transition from vibrant life to bleached coral, as the reef appears fragile and worn. Small fish weave through the coral branches, adding small bursts of color and movement to the otherwise still landscape. 

Blue Hard Coral Turning White And Dying from Bleaching — 4K Stock Video.

This close-up footage of hard corals was captured in ultra-high-definition 4K (2160p) and and made available in HD (1080p) resolution by skilled videographers, this free stock video offers crisp details that bring the plight of corals into sharp focus. Available in both landscape (16:9 aspect ratio) and vertical (9:16 aspect ratio) formats, it is suitable for widescreen displays and social media platforms like Instagram Reels, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts. This footage is ideal for environmental campaigns, NGO initiatives, documentaries, and educational projects focused on the effects of climate change and ocean acidification on marine ecosystems.

Increasing CO₂ levels in the atmosphere, largely due to human activities like fossil fuel burning and deforestation, directly impact coral reefs by driving both ocean warming and acidification. Higher CO₂ levels lead to an increase in the acidity of seawater, altering the carbonate chemistry that corals rely on to build their calcium carbonate skeletons. When oceans absorb CO₂, they form carbonic acid, which breaks down into hydrogen ions that lower the pH of the water and reduce the availability of carbonate ions. Without sufficient carbonate, corals struggle to build and maintain their skeletal structure, becoming weaker and more susceptible to damage.