Katey Lesneski

May 6, 2024 | climate.gov | Haley Thiem |Jennifer Moore |Katey Lesneski |Dawn Desmarais

In the summer of 2023, portions of the Florida Keys experienced an extreme marine heat wave, unlike any other in recorded history for the region. Heat records were broken and some reefs were completely bleached—they expelled their food-producing algal partners and turned white. Divers survey bleached corals at Cheeca Rocks reef at the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary on August 1, 2023. Video produced by NOAA.

Jul 21, 2023 | chronicleonline.com | Katey Lesneski

This photo provided by the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, shows restored coral colonies that are still healthy despite the record-high water temperatures at Eastern Dry Rocks off Key West,

Jul 21, 2023 | bakersfield.com | Katey Lesneski

This photo provided by the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, shows restored coral colonies that are still healthy despite the record-high water temperatures at Eastern Dry Rocks off Key West, Fla., in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, on Monday, July 17, 2023. Some Florida Keys corals are losing their color weeks earlier in the summer than has been documented before, meaning they are under stress and their health is potentially endangered, federal scientists said.