• Ar
  • Es
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Feature
  • Videos
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Feature
Videos
Infographs
In Pictures
  1. Home
  2. News
  3. Asia Pacific
  4. Australia's Great Barrier Reef suffering 'widespread' bleaching
Asia Pacific

Australia's Great Barrier Reef suffering 'widespread' bleaching

  • By Al Mayadeen net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 18 Mar 2022 08:23

Australia is a key exporter of iron ore, coal, and petroleum, which contribute to coral bleaching. 

  • Australia's Great Barrier Reef suffering
    A healthy portion of the Geat Barrier Reef compared with a bleached portion on the right (Greenpeace.org)

Australian authorities announced Friday that the Great Barrier Reef has been plagued by "widespread" bleaching once again, as higher-than-average water temperature conditions threaten the already ailing World Heritage site.

The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system, which stretches down the coast of Queensland, Australia. The reef is home to over 9,000 species of wildlife; however, it is suffering from coral bleaching as a result of climate change.

In November, scientists reported nearly the entire coral reef system had been bleached, and only 2% of it has been spared.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority reported damage ranging from mild to severe bleaching over the 2,300-kilometer (1,243-mile) coral system.

In its weekly update, the authority stated that "bleaching has been detected across the Marine Park -- it is widespread but variable, across multiple regions, ranging in impact from minor to severe."

Ocean temperatures within the marine park have varied between 0.5 and two degrees Celsius above average in the last week, while northern areas saw temperatures between two and four degrees above average.

"The most heavily impacted reefs are around the Townsville region. There have also been reports of early mortality where heat stress has been the greatest."

The research was regarded as "disastrous news" by the Australian Marine Conservation Society, especially during a La Nina weather cycle, which is often linked with colder water temperatures.

 Manager Lissa Schindler said, "A healthy reef can recover from coral bleaching but it needs time. More frequent marine heatwaves primarily driven by the burning of coal and gas means it is not getting this time."

According to Schindler, bleaching indicates consistent pressure from global heating. 

The World Heritage Committee, a governing body for UNESCO consisting of 21 countries, refuted placing GBR on the danger list, especially after vigorous lobbying efforts by Australia to keep the heritage site off the list. 

The rising temperatures in 2016, 2017, and 2020 due to climate change have caused bleaching to escalate greatly. 

It is noteworthy to state that Australia is a key exporter of iron ore, coal, and petroleum, which contribute to coral bleaching. 

  • oceans
  • Great Barrier Reef
  • Australia
STOP THE HEAT: A Climate Change Coverage

STOP THE HEAT: A Climate Change Coverage

Trending Now

All
Great Barrier Reef (Reuters)

Great Barrier Reef at risk of second severe coral bleaching summer

Most Read

Indonesian president Joko Widodo during an interview in Jakarta in 2016 (Reuters)

Widodo urges Indonesia to abandon Visa, MasterCard to be 'independent'

  • Asia
  • 16 Mar
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen listens to opening remarks before testifying before the Senate Finance Committee about the President's proposed budget request for the fiscal year 2024, Thursday, March 16, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP)

US Debt ceiling ‘must be raised’ ahead of default: Treasury Secretary

  • US & Canada
  • 16 Mar
The Desert of the Real; Russia's SMO a year later

The Desert of the Real; Russia's SMO a year later

  • Europe
  • 14 Mar
Rallies held in Washington DC to protest US militarism

Peace rallies held in Washington DC to protest US militarism

  • US & Canada
  • 18 Mar

Read this

All
20 years on, US-led Iraq War atrocities revealed in numbers
MENA

20 years on, US-led Iraq War atrocities revealed in numbers

  • 20 Mar
People walk past rubble of damaged buildings, in the aftermath of the earthquake, in Aleppo, Syria February 7, 2023. (Reuters)
MENA

Donors pledge €7bln as quake aid for Turkey, Syria, fall vastly short

  • 20 Mar
so maliuhhhh
Africa

Somalia to record 135 deaths a day due to drought: UN study

  • Today
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene at Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, US in April 2022 (AP)
US & Canada

20% of Americans agree with Greene's 'national divorce' between states

  • 20 Mar
Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS