Scientists are concerned about the life of the Great Barrier Reef, registering the significant mortality of corals which surpasses any previous record. Some researchers who had carefully investigating Australia’s Great Barrier Reef have argued that there has been recorded an excessive number of dead corals which were part of the reef. It seems that global warming is still ruling in this area.
- Climate change had severely affected the Great Barrier Reef.
- Approximately 67% of the corals which were part of the reef were completely damaged.
The Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies had analyzed the situation of the reef, being able to determine the level of devastation. The most damaged area is a coral belt which lies for approximately seven hundred kilometers, located in the north of the chain of reefs off the northeast coast of Australia. They were estimated to measure about 2,300 kilometers, being listed as the World Heritage.
The base of the center is located at James Cook University in Queensland. Researchers who work there have investigated the stage of the corals after several dive surveys which happened in October and November. They have established that the belt of corals situated at the north of Port Douglas was severely affected by climate change. Almost 67% of the corals from shallow waters have vanished during the last nine months. This is outrageous. Global warming is slowly killing hundreds of ecosystems.
In the south, over the southern and central areas which cover the reef, researchers revealed a lower death toll. The critical area of the Great Barrier Reef had already lost 6% of its corals, all dying because of the great temperatures. The southern part of the reef had lost only 1% of bleached coral.
Terry Hughes, who is the director of the Center, has claimed that the mortality unveiled on the length of the reef is outrageously disjointed. In the northern area of the reef, there is extremely severe devastation. He also asserted that their only encouraging and hopeful news is that the areas around Whitsunday Islands, Cairns, and Port Douglas look relatively better, with a very decreased rate of coral mortality.
During this week, it was speculated that the authorities of Queensland and Australia would update the UNESCO World Heritage Center informing them that scientists managed to make progress, further investing the cause of so many dead corals to identify the source and protect the reef. Coral bleaching seems to be another terrible effect of climate change which attacked the Great Barrier Reef.
Image courtesy of: wikipedia
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