Worst coral bleaching on record for Western Australian reefs
Scientists, along the coast of Western Australia (WA) world -famous coral reefs, the state’s “longest, largest and most intense” sea heat wave after the worst bleaching in the registration, he says.
Between last August and May, warmer water temperatures led to significant heat stress on the reefs, which caused many corals to fire algae that give them life and color – a process called bleaching.
The evaluation includes 1,500km (932 miles) and contains areas that have not been damaged by climate change.
Worldwide coral reefs suffer from two -year global coral bleaching due to the recording of high ocean temperatures.
The Australian Naval Science Agency said eight -week heat stress is usually sufficient to kill a coral, and that there are many Wa reefs between 15 and 30 WA reefs in early estimates.
“The length and intensity of heat stress and footprint in multiple regions, most of the reefs in Western Australia are something we have never seen before,” James Gilmour from the Australian Institute of Marine Sciences (AMS) from the Australian Institute of Marine Sciences (AMS). He said.
In a new report, AIMS researchers found that the 2024-25 season was “the most severe coral bleaching in the recording” for WA Coral reefs in both northwest and central reefs.
“The areas that give us hope, because they have not been rarely bleached or bleached – like Rowley Shoals, North Kimberley and Ningaloo – this time was hard. Finally, the climate heating caught these reefs.” He said.
Climate change means that bleaching events become more often, more intense and more common;
“The climate change caused by carbon emissions continues to be the greatest threat to our coral reefs and globally all reefs.” He said.
