Great Barrier Reef hit by Widespread Coral Bleaching
Australia’s Great Barrier Reef has been hit by widespread coral bleaching, which has the potential to be devastating to one of the world’s most iconic natural wonders. Battered by record warming on land and sea the past two years, coral reefs around the world have suffered bleaching events. When that happens, corals expel the symbiotic algae living in their tissues, causing corals to turn white or pale. Without the algae, the coral loses its major source of food and is more susceptible to disease. Starting in the North Pacific Ocean in the summer 2014, the bleaching expanded to the South Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, and Atlantic Ocean in 2015. That prompted NOAA’s Coral Reef Watch in October to declare the third ever global bleaching event – after the 1997-1999Central Pacific Reefs Battered by El Nino
Researchers at the Georgia Tech’s School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences have painted a grim picture for the current status of Pacific ocean reefs. El Nino events are especially high this year and the waters surrounding many reefs are heating up quicker and...WWF Reports on the Status of Our Oceans
On the heels of international climate talks in Paris, the World Wildlife Fund has released a startling review of the status of our oceans titled “Living Blue Planet Report.” The WWF and the Zoological Society of London releases a bi-annual report that...Reef Threads Podcast #248
It’s time for another podcast. This week we are excited to have Alex Rose join us, after a long absence, to talk about the Elysium Artists for the Arctic expedition. Don’t miss this one. It’s a tremendous story about the expedition itself but, more important, what global warming is doing to an extremely important ecosystem. Download the podcast here, or subscribe to our podcasts at iTunes. Also, follow us on Twitter at reefthreads.—Gary and Christine
Sponsor: Rod’s Food
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Below are several photos Alex made during the expedition.
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