Status: 05/11/2022 10:29 am
Around 90 percent of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is affected by coral bleaching. A heat wave, unusual for this time of year, with temperatures of almost 50 degrees Celsius is stressing the reef.
The ongoing heatwave in Australia has damaged more than 90 percent of the Great Barrier Reef’s corals. This is according to a report by the Australian government. The damage is a result of climate change.
Of the 719 reefs surveyed, 654 — or 91 percent — exhibited some degree of coral bleaching, the report said. Bleaching is a phenomenon that occurs when corals are stressed and shed the colorful algae that live within them.
One such stress on corals could be the Australian heatwave. This has been going on since December and at times has caused temperatures of almost 50 degrees Celsius. Although bleached corals are still alive and moderately affected sections of reef may be able to recover, “heavily bleached corals have a higher mortality rate,” the report continued.
Coral bleaching sad premiere at this time
But something else is different from previous years: According to the government report, this year is the first time that the reef has been affected by bleaching during a so-called La Niña weather period. Cooler temperatures are usually to be expected during this time.
They’ve lost almost all their color: bleached corals on the Great Barrier Reef.
Image: dpa
Environmentalists urge government to act
Before the parliamentary elections in ten days, environmentalists called on politicians to do more for climate protection. Lissa Schindler from the Australian Marine Conservation Society warned:
Although bleaching is becoming more common, it is not normal and we should not put up with it.
Schindler added that both major political parties would have to face the fact that their climate targets for the reef were not sufficient.
UNESCO could classify reef as “Vulnerable”.
Next month, UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee will decide whether to classify the Great Barrier Reef as “Vulnerable”. In 2015, Australia was able to avert an impending downgrading of the world heritage site by the government drawing up a long-term action plan and investing billions in protection measures.