Heat Wave Underwater Puts Great Barrier Reef into Serious Threat

According to an aerial survey of the coral outcrops, an only living system that can be seen from space and a UNESCO world heritage site, is under great danger as 95% of its northern area, almost half the reef's total length, is being afflicted by a bleaching incident that began six months ago. The damage done in the southern area is yet to be evaluated.

"This has been the saddest research trip of my life," said Terry Hughes, a professor at Australia's James Cook University and expert in coral bleaching. "Almost without exception, every reef we flew across showed consistently high levels of bleaching, from the reef slope right up onto the top of the reef."

This phenomenon occurs when the sea temperatures are high enough to destroy tiny algae that are responsible for giving corals its rich color. Without this algae, the host coral, dead white, reveals itself and the organisms begin to starve. Scientists say that bleaching has led to an enormous impact on the health of the oceans. These coral outcrops may only cover a small part of the ocean but are responsible for supporting at least a quarter of all marine life.

According to Prof. Hughes, the most affected area of Great Barrier Reef expands from Papua New Guinea to Cairns in Northeastern Australia. In this region, the hot water has been noticed for months. So far only four outcrops in this region remain unchanged.

What causes more concern is that what is now being destroyed by bleaching is one of the most pristine and remote coral in Australia, citing the government's plea in declaring the reef as an "at risk" site by United Nations World Heritage Committee.

"The government has basically argued that it still has the pristine north," Prof. Hughes said.

"That argument is now seriously diminished by the extent of the damage, so it may well be that the Heritage Committee will decide to have another look at that."