September 16, 2024
Researchers have found that the largest coral reef system on Earth, the Great Barrier Reef, has experienced the highest ocean temperatures in the past four centuries over the last 10 years. During this period, increased water temperatures gave rise to numerous coral bleaching events. For their study, researchers used satellite information and drilled into corals to understand how ocean temperatures have impacted them over time. They found that during the five coral bleaching events that occurred from 2016 onwards, the ocean temperatures were considerably higher as compared to temperatures experienced since 1618. Researchers attribute this warming to pollution and climate change.
DID YOU KNOW?
The Great Barrier Reef, located along Australia’s northeastern coast, stretches for more than 2,300kms and over 1.5 million people visit it each year.
