Ocean temperatures around the Great Barrier Reef have reached their highest levels in 400 years over the past decade.Scientists warn that the world's largest living ecosystem may not survive if global warming continues.
A study published in the scientific journal Nature by a group of Australian researchers found that the temperature around the 2,400-kilometer-long coral system had been remarkably stable for hundreds of years, but has increased significantly in recent decades, largely due to human activity. Ocean temperatures around the reef have been rising annually since 1960,and recent heatwaves have led to mass coral bleaching events.
Researchers calculated that since 2016, the world-famous reef has suffered five mass bleaching events due to rising global ocean temperatures. Marine biologists have found that corals attempt to survive in warm waters by expelling the colorful microscopic algae from their tissues.
According to one of the study's authors, Helen McGregor, the temperature increase is "unprecedented." "These are corals that have been living for 400 years, and these are the hottest temperatures they have experienced. They are the redwoods of the reef," she said.
Scientists conducted the study using data from ships and satellites, as well as by drilling into corals to analyze samples that helped them understand changes in ocean temperature since 1618. According to their findings, temperatures began to rise around the beginning of the 20th century and increased by an average of about 0.12 degrees Celsius from January to March between 1960 and 2024.
The reef is home to a vast array of life, with 600 species of coral and 1,625 species of fish. It is also a significant tourist attraction for Australia, generating about $4.2 billion for the country's economy each year.
The UN has recommended that the Great Barrier Reef be added to the list of World Heritage sites in danger, but Australia has resisted these efforts, fearing that it could damage the reef's tourism appeal.
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