The Great Barrier Reef is once again affected by “widespread” bleaching, the marine site authority announced on Friday.

Above-average ocean temperatures off northeast Australia are threatening corals.

"Bleaching has been detected throughout the marine park," the authority said in its weekly update.

This phenomenon of decline, resulting in discoloration, is caused by the rise in water temperature (a consequence of climate change) which leads to the expulsion of the symbiotic algae giving the coral its bright color.

According to Terry Hughes, one of the world's leading coral scientists, a sixth episode of massive bleaching is occurring in the Great Barrier Reef https://t.co/ihbu9MZDcd

— Audrey Garric (@audreygarric) March 17, 2022

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“Early mortality” of corals

Surveillance flights over the reef covering an area of ​​2,300 km revealed the damage.

Mid-March, sea temperatures were 0.5 to 2°C above average, and 2 to 4°C above average in the far north and coastal areas.

"Early mortality" of corals has been reported "where heat stress has been greatest", according to the authority.

This assessment comes as Unesco will carry out an inspection of the site to check its state of health.

The results of the mission will be presented in June 2022 to the World Heritage Committee.

If they are negative, the Great Barrier could join the list of UNESCO sites in danger.

The Great Barrier under “constant pressure”

In 2015, the UN threatened to downgrade the status of the Great Barrier Reef, a World Heritage Site since 1981. Australia then launched a multi-billion dollar investment plan to combat the deterioration of the reef.

But since then, the latter has suffered badly after three serious episodes of bleaching in 2016, 2017 and 2020.

According to a recent study, bleaching has affected 98% of the Great Barrier Reef since 1998, sparing only a tiny portion of the reef.

"It shows the constant pressure [it] is under today due to global warming," said Lissa Schindler of the Australian Marine Conservation.

"A healthy reef can recover from coral bleaching, but it takes time," she added.

The increase in the frequency of marine heat waves, mainly due to the burning of coal and gas, means that it will not have this weather.

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  • Global warming

  • Planet

  • Temperature

  • Coral

  • Australia

  • Whitening

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