Untouched reefs cop record bleaching in intense heat
Scientists say the longest, largest and largest maritime heat wave in the record triggers the worst coral bleach from the western coastline of Australia.
Researchers evaluate the full scope of the damage after an unprecedented incident that initiated more calls for urgent calls on climate change.
The Australian Institute of Marine Sciences confirmed coral mortality up to 90 percent in 1500km of Western Australia’s coastline.
“The length and intensity of heat stress and footprint in multiple regions, WA, most of the reefs in WA, said James Gilmour, the senior research scientist of the Institute.
“The areas that give us hope, because Rowley Shoals, North Kimberley and Ningalooo have rarely not bleached or bleached.”
Last summer, the sea surface temperatures around Australia have been the hottest since 1900, and the institute labeled the “Longest, Largest and Lost” season, which broke it for WA.
The conditions vary between tropical reefs – “extreme”, 90 percent bleached or dead, “middle”, between 11 and 30 percent.
Mermaid and Clerke reefs in Rowley Shoals, 300 km west of Broome, recorded “very high” mortality levels between 61 and 90 percent.
Ningaloo Ref, which lists the world heritage known for its whale sharks, experienced “high” bleaching and mortality between 31 and 60 percent.
Dr Gilmour said that climate change increases the frequency and severity of mass coral bleaching events and gives very little time to return between them.
“They need 10 to 15 years to fully recover,” he said.
“The key to helping coral reefs to survive under climate change is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”
The major barrier was also under pressure, and two of the three regions in 2024 experienced the biggest decline in the coral cover.
Larissa Waters, the Greens leader, said that WA event was more warning about the effects of climate change and accused the Federal government of not taking the crisis seriously.
“The reefs that have never been bleached before are now bleached – the face of this climate crisis,” he said.
“We will not get too much warning, because we have seen mass coral bleaching and death, and you cannot go back from it.”
The Australian Naval Protection Association called for emergency climate action and stronger protection for reefs.
“It is difficult to understand the wide scale of the effects on WA’s coastline and open sea reefs – it needs an unprecedented damage and an unprecedented leadership response to WA and federal governments, Pa said CEO Paul Gamblin.
The WA Protection Council said that the bleach was destructive, but it was not surprising.
“Scientists say that we are ready to lose 80-90 percent of our coral reefs with 1.5 degrees warming for many years and we have lost all of them, Mat director Matt Roberts said.
Molecular ecologist Kate Quigley said that bleaching and coral deaths should be a “calling for wake up için for the nation.
Müdür We need strong emission discounts to prevent future marine heat waves, which we know will be in our future, ”Minderoo Foundation Director said.
Dr Quigley also asked for more research and monitoring of “critical ecosystems ..
The Mercan Health update comes before the expected publication of the federal government’s 2035 climate targets in September, in September.
The WA continues to be the only situation without a 2030 emission reduction target.
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