Scientists Map 166,000 Square Kilometers of Climate-Resilient Coral Refugia

Researchers have identified roughly 166,000 square kilometers of coral reef with physical and biological traits needed to survive accelerating ocean warming, according to a study published in Conservation Letters and reported by Reuters on June 16, 2026. These climate refugia—zones where cooler currents and stable conditions buffer reefs—represent the first global-scale quantification of survival zones where coral colonies can recover between heat stress events.