Which mechanism explains coral bleaching during a strong El Niño event in the Pacific Ocean?

💡 Explanation

During El Niño, the thermocline deepens, reducing the nutrient upwelling because this warm surface water suppresses the rise of cooler, nutrient-rich deeper water, inhibiting photosynthesis in zooxanthellae. Therefore, the coral expels zooxanthellae, causing bleaching, rather than upwelling loss, acidification, or wave hinderance which affect different physiological processes.

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