Coral Bleaching In The Great Barrier Reef

According to source 6, the Great Barrier Reef is extremely vulnerable to climate change. For example, an increase in carbon dioxide concentration from 380 ppm to 450 ppm in the atmosphere will increase the sea temperature by one degree which is enough to cause severe coral bleaching. On top of that the sea water will become more acidic and the sea levels will rise, posing more threats to the reef.

“Unusually high water temperatures have caused many coral species to lose their zooxanthellae, turn white, and die prematurely, thereby leading to a decline in reef building. Scientists predict bleaching will reduce diversity among corals and the creatures that depend on them” (“Great” World Book). Additionally, changes in the salinity of the water affects the Great Barrier Reef. Salinity is changing because of changes in climate. This is because warmer air from climate change can absorb more water than cooler air, therefore changing evaporation cycles. In places where there is more rainfall than evaporation, rainfall is increasing. In places where evaporation exceeds rainfall, evaporation is increasing. This process is widening the gap between humid and arid regions. This proves to scientists that climate change is affecting salinity (Calif). Furthermore, diseases are produced among coral because of climate change as well as pollution. Increasing temperatures are so effective on the reef that the only disease that can be treated is black-band disease (“Coral”). Ultimately, the coral in the Great Barrier Reef becomes brittle and pale because of these

For over 25 million years, the Great Barrier Reef has lived off of the northeastern coast of Australia. The first human civilizations started around 5,000 years ago and industrialization of humans about 200 years ago (History of Humans, 2016). The human race’s timeline is just a small fraction in comparison to the reefs, but somehow humanity has managed completely derail mother nature in an incomprehensible amount of ways. Healthwise, the Great Barrier Reef is in the worst shape of its life and which just so happens to match ever so nicely with the rapid pandemic of global warming that has increased over the past couple of decades. The rise in air temperature is gradually increasing the ocean 's temperature as well which is causing colossal damage to Great Barrier Reef and reefs across the globe. If we do not take action immediately in reducing our planet’s rising temperature and ever increasing CO2, it will soon be too late to save this natural wonder as well as the countless organism that call it home.

Global warming has been on the world’s radar for many years. For Australia and our world heritage site, the rising sea temperatures in the last three decades have seriously affected the Great Barrier Reef in many ways, the most concerning of which being coral bleaching. This incredibly beautiful but fragile underwater world is also

The Great Barrier Reef is on the brink of dying, and humans are to blame. Corals are the center of marine ecosystems as they provide food and shelter for animals as well as a source of income for Australia, in terms of tourism and fishing. However, as said by NASA research scientist Liane Guild, “Coral reefs are considered ‘canaries of the oceans,’ acting as an early warning system for marine ecosystems” . If the corals die off then everything in the ocean will follow. Of course weather is unpredictable and is a big part of why coral bleaching has occurred, but humans have also had a negative impact on them. There are currently Catholic movements aimed at saving the reef, and Pope Francis mentions the gravity of this situation in his recent encyclical. That being said, if we as a human race were told about coral bleaching by governments and were educated about it in school then global warming and weather wouldn’t have affected it as much as it has.

The researchers from the Australian universities has identified genes that allow some algae living in corals to tolerate higher ocean temperatures than others. The problem of coral bleaching is becoming more urgent throughout the world, so Australian scientists decided to study it on a genetical level. The genes could act as markers to understand the risk of coral bleaching in different areas of tropical reefs including the Great Barrier Reef.

When people think of bleaching they might think about bleaching their hair which is damaging if repeated often or perhaps accidentally spilling bleach on a shirt and ruining it. But there is another type of bleaching that a lot of people don’t know about, and that’s coral bleaching. It affects a large majority of the Great Barrier Reef which is a primitive host of living things. The Great Barrier Reef is desperate for attention and it’s up to us to try and save it and prevent more damage from being done.

Marine Park Authority’s conduct an outlook report every five years which examines the Great Barrier Reef’s health, highlighting current and future pressures. This

The Great Barrier Reef is bleaching at a significantly alarming rate. As scientists figured out it is contributed by three main perpetrators. The main culprit of the bleaching of the bleaching of the reefs is record warming water. This has been linked to El Niño and global warming. Next, acidification of the ocean from mainly human causes. Finally, fishing impacts have hurt the barrier a great deal. The northern part of Australia is bleaching much more rapidly than the south. The reef brings in a lot of tourism and money for Australia and losing it would also mean losing a lot of jobs for people as well. Scientists have noticed through the bleaching some coral species have survived and

Coral reefs around the world are in danger. One of the causes is global warming, which has been increasing the temperature of the ocean water resulting in coral bleaching. This essay will focus on damage occurring to the Great Barrier Reef.

As global warming continues, corals will not be able to keep up with increasing ocean temperatures. Coral bleaching has led to increase of un-healthy reefs. The raising of sea temperatures slows down coral growth and loss of coral. Coral bleaching is expected to occur more often and worse in the future, making it difficult for corals to recover. Some coral types, such as staghorn corals, are really sensitive to bleaching, and these will be the most affected. Corals that deal with the sea temperatures better will dominate the Great Barrier Reef. Some reefs rely on the animals to help control coral bleaching; climate change has effect some marine animals such as some of the fish of the Great Barrier Reef. The preferred temperature range leads them to find a new habitat. Climate change will also affect the population and sea turtle's e habitat. Storms and creatures that eat through limestone which wear down reefs. The Great Barrier Reef has adapted to cope with the impacts of cyclones and severe storms. However, many scientists predict that intense cyclones (such as cyclone Hamish and cyclone Yasi) will occur more often due to climate change. Reef recovery from severe storms is slow, because fewer corals survive to help affected

Coral bleaching occurs when the microscopic plants (zooxanthellae) are expelled by rising ocean temperature. When there are no microscopic plants such as zooxanthellae, the coral turns white and die. The studies show that throughout the worlds ocean, from the Florida Keys to the Great Barrier Reef of the Australia have been evidence of unique coral bleaching caused by the rising of ocean temperature. In the early 1980s the coral bleaching event has increased because of rapid increase of sea water temperature. Esther et al., investigates growth of Oculina patagonica at multiple environmental conditions in the western Mediterranean Sea. The Oculina patagonia is stony coral specie which is found mostly in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean. The coral was basically Atlantic origin which was transferred to Mediterranean Sea.

The Great Barrier Reef is one of the 7 natural wonders of the world, the world’s largest coral reef system extends across 2,300 kilometres just off the north-east coast of Australia. The bio-diverse natural reef is the largest living structure on the planet, so big it is visible from space (Great Barrier Reef Foundation, 2017). Unfortunately, the Great Barrier Reef is under threat. There are several elements influencing the rapid decline in the coral ecosystems health. This qualitative study will explore the affects coral bleaching is having on the coral ecosystem of The Great Barrier

Coral reef bleaching is a serious problem that should be addressed immediately. Coral reef bleaching is an issue because of the damage done to the coral, and the damage done to the ecosystem associated with coral reefs. Some proposed solutions are that more areas of coral reefs should be protected, and sunscreens should be banned in and near the reefs.

Coral reefs are diverse and extensive underwater ecosystems that provide habitats for around one quarter of the oceans species, an astoundingly high number considering they make up less than two percent of the ocean floor. These reefs are held together by calcium carbonate, and the corals themselves are living creatures with protective skeletons. However, these so called “rainforests of the sea” are in danger. Coral bleaching, an event in which a general increase in water temperatures leads to a reduction in the microscopic algae acting as a basis for the corals diet, is leading to the fragmentation of once vast and stable coral reef systems. Reef bleaching mainly occurs due to increases in carbon dioxide levels, which facilitate rising water temperatures and dangerous amounts of ocean acidification, otherwise known as pH.