Rising Waters and Unyielding Heat: The Great Barrier Reef’s Battle Against Climate Change

The Great Barrier Reef off Australia is currently facing its fifth major coral bleaching incident in eight years, leaving it vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. This summer has been particularly harsh on the reef, with two cyclones, flooding, and outbreaks of coral-eating starfish contributing to its destruction.

The marine nature park responsible for the Great Barrier Reef has reported that the cumulative effects of these events have been greater than in previous years. A recent update published by the authority revealed that coral bleaching was observed in 73% of the reefs in the marine park area and 6% in the Torres Strait area.

Coral bleaching occurs when corals expel the algae living inside them, leading to loss of color and nutrients. While bleaching doesn’t always result in coral death, it can have long-term impacts on the health of the reef. Australian researchers have observed coral mortality caused by bleaching in all areas of the Great Barrier Reef. The extent of heat stress and aerial surveys suggest that this bleaching event is one of the most extensive in nearly 40 years of monitoring. While the reef has shown resilience in the past, researchers warn that this resilience has its limits in the face of ongoing climate change.

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