Scientists are issuing dire warnings about the health of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, as it faces the threat of devastating coral bleaching caused by a marine heatwave off the coast of Queensland. The Climate Council, a local non-governmental organization, has revealed new underwater images showcasing the extent of the disaster. According to reports from the Australian news agency AAP, an area stretching 1,100 kilometres from Lizard Island to the Keppel Islands has already been affected by the bleaching event.
Experts attribute the bleaching to a recent marine heatwave in the region, exacerbating the already precarious situation for the world’s largest coral reef system. Diana Kleine, a project manager at Coral Watch, an environmental monitoring group, has been studying the Great Barrier Reef for over two decades. She describes the current bleaching event as the most severe she has witnessed, particularly at Heron Island research station in the reef’s southern region.
“Heron Island has fortunately been spared from several bleaching events in recent years, but the current situation is absolutely devastating,” Kleine told AAP. Located approximately 460 kilometres north of Brisbane, Heron Island falls within the affected area of the ongoing bleaching event.
The Great Barrier Reef faces increasing threats due to rising global temperatures. In challenging conditions, corals expel the algae they depend on for colour and sustenance, resulting in bleaching. While bleached corals are still alive and capable of recovery, the exceptionally warm seawater makes them vulnerable to diseases that can prove fatal.
According to experts, if water temperatures do not decrease in the coming weeks, the bleached corals are at risk of perishing. In some areas with temperatures reaching up to 30 degrees Celsius, as much as 80% of the coral is experiencing bleaching. The situation underscores the urgent need for global action to mitigate climate change and protect vital ecosystems like the Great Barrier Reef.
