Coral bleaching models generated by the NOAA Coral Reef Watch have shown that persistently warm ocean temperatures in the Caribbean this year are likely to cause widespread bleaching events. Bleaching results in part from excessively warm waters causing the coral animal to expel its symbiotic algae partner, resulting in a white "bleached" color. The algae are the corals' main source of food, and after a bleaching event, the coral is severely weakened. Disease, malnutrition, and competition may eventually lead to the corals' death. This image shows the extent of predicted bleaching areas in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico at the height of the bleaching period (August - early October). Not since 2005 temperatures caused such widespread bleaching events in these areas. And, in fact, 2010 looks as if it might overtake 2005 in overall bleached areas and coral mortality. Current model runs show a diminishing of the areas impacted by bleaching events as waters begin to cool during the fall months. (Data above 30 degrees north latitude is not shown since tropical corals rarely inhabit such areas.)