Temperatures in the waters around the Great Barrier Reef Wednesday were higher than usual. (Image: NOAA Coral Reef Watch)
Mar 03, 2020
Australia's Great Barrier Reef is in danger of a catastrophic bleaching event that scientists warn could have dire consequences on the survival of one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
"It's a sobering reality we're in," Georgia Institute of Technology coral reef scientist Kim Cobb toldVice.
Temperatures in the waters surrounding the reef have been high in recent weeks, part of the months-long heatwave that brought devastating fires to Australia that ringed the country in December, forcing thousands from their homes and killing millions of animals. The fires were followed by massive flooding in February.
As Maddie Stone reported for Vice, the heat has led to a dangerous situation for the survival of the reef:
For the past few weeks, the Great Barrier Reef has been running a fever, with temperatures along the 1,400 mile-long ecosystem hovering a degree Celsius or more above normal. At these temperatures, corals become stressed and start to bleach, jettisoning the colorful algae that provide them their food and turning a bloodless white. If the water remains warm for too long, the algae won't return, and the corals will starve.
Experts worry the Great Barrier Reef is now uncomfortably close to that tipping point.
NOAA's Coral Reef Watch Program expects widespread bleaching, the organization said, from the north to the south of the reef.
"You're looking at a bigger, more widespread event," program director Mark Eakin told Vice.
Imaging from the organization shared by James Cook University Coral Reef Studies director Professor Terry Hughes on Twitter showed the increase in temperature.
"More widespread than 2016 or 2017, but hopefully not quite as intense," said Hughes. "I'm particularly concerned about the south, which has not been exposed to widespread bleaching before."
\u201cNOAA\u2019s updated bleaching forecast for the #GreatBarrierReef is devastating. https://t.co/xPU2olTJlG \n\nMore widespread than 2016 or 2017, but hopefully not quite as intense. I\u2019m particularly concerned about the south, which has not been exposed to widespread bleaching before.\u201d— Terry Hughes (@Terry Hughes) 1583276608
As Common Dreams reported in February, scientists observing the rising sea temperatures around the reef described the situation then as on "a knife edge."
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Australia's Great Barrier Reef is in danger of a catastrophic bleaching event that scientists warn could have dire consequences on the survival of one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
"It's a sobering reality we're in," Georgia Institute of Technology coral reef scientist Kim Cobb toldVice.
Temperatures in the waters surrounding the reef have been high in recent weeks, part of the months-long heatwave that brought devastating fires to Australia that ringed the country in December, forcing thousands from their homes and killing millions of animals. The fires were followed by massive flooding in February.
As Maddie Stone reported for Vice, the heat has led to a dangerous situation for the survival of the reef:
For the past few weeks, the Great Barrier Reef has been running a fever, with temperatures along the 1,400 mile-long ecosystem hovering a degree Celsius or more above normal. At these temperatures, corals become stressed and start to bleach, jettisoning the colorful algae that provide them their food and turning a bloodless white. If the water remains warm for too long, the algae won't return, and the corals will starve.
Experts worry the Great Barrier Reef is now uncomfortably close to that tipping point.
NOAA's Coral Reef Watch Program expects widespread bleaching, the organization said, from the north to the south of the reef.
"You're looking at a bigger, more widespread event," program director Mark Eakin told Vice.
Imaging from the organization shared by James Cook University Coral Reef Studies director Professor Terry Hughes on Twitter showed the increase in temperature.
"More widespread than 2016 or 2017, but hopefully not quite as intense," said Hughes. "I'm particularly concerned about the south, which has not been exposed to widespread bleaching before."
\u201cNOAA\u2019s updated bleaching forecast for the #GreatBarrierReef is devastating. https://t.co/xPU2olTJlG \n\nMore widespread than 2016 or 2017, but hopefully not quite as intense. I\u2019m particularly concerned about the south, which has not been exposed to widespread bleaching before.\u201d— Terry Hughes (@Terry Hughes) 1583276608
As Common Dreams reported in February, scientists observing the rising sea temperatures around the reef described the situation then as on "a knife edge."
Australia's Great Barrier Reef is in danger of a catastrophic bleaching event that scientists warn could have dire consequences on the survival of one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
"It's a sobering reality we're in," Georgia Institute of Technology coral reef scientist Kim Cobb toldVice.
Temperatures in the waters surrounding the reef have been high in recent weeks, part of the months-long heatwave that brought devastating fires to Australia that ringed the country in December, forcing thousands from their homes and killing millions of animals. The fires were followed by massive flooding in February.
As Maddie Stone reported for Vice, the heat has led to a dangerous situation for the survival of the reef:
For the past few weeks, the Great Barrier Reef has been running a fever, with temperatures along the 1,400 mile-long ecosystem hovering a degree Celsius or more above normal. At these temperatures, corals become stressed and start to bleach, jettisoning the colorful algae that provide them their food and turning a bloodless white. If the water remains warm for too long, the algae won't return, and the corals will starve.
Experts worry the Great Barrier Reef is now uncomfortably close to that tipping point.
NOAA's Coral Reef Watch Program expects widespread bleaching, the organization said, from the north to the south of the reef.
"You're looking at a bigger, more widespread event," program director Mark Eakin told Vice.
Imaging from the organization shared by James Cook University Coral Reef Studies director Professor Terry Hughes on Twitter showed the increase in temperature.
"More widespread than 2016 or 2017, but hopefully not quite as intense," said Hughes. "I'm particularly concerned about the south, which has not been exposed to widespread bleaching before."
\u201cNOAA\u2019s updated bleaching forecast for the #GreatBarrierReef is devastating. https://t.co/xPU2olTJlG \n\nMore widespread than 2016 or 2017, but hopefully not quite as intense. I\u2019m particularly concerned about the south, which has not been exposed to widespread bleaching before.\u201d— Terry Hughes (@Terry Hughes) 1583276608
As Common Dreams reported in February, scientists observing the rising sea temperatures around the reef described the situation then as on "a knife edge."
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.