Record heat this winter is bringing the Great Barrier Reef to the brink of mass bleaching: scientists alarm
La Great Barrier Reef, one of the most precious and enchanting natural heritages of our planet, is dying and is already on the verge of a new mass whitening. To jeopardize its survival the record heat of the last few weeks. Average water temperatures in mid-December were at least 0,5 ° C higher than in any other summer.
The data surprised the same experts of the Coral Reef Watch of the Noaa (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa), engaged in monitoring.
There has never been a heat stress like the one just recorded - admitted Dr. William Skirving, senior researcher at Noaa - It is completely out of the ordinary, the minimum temperatures were higher than the previous maximums. This is almost certainly a sign of climate change. Being a scientist in this field is sometimes a bit of a nightmare nowadays. Sometimes I would like to know a little less.
The phenomenon of deterioration, which has spared only 2% of this very rich and delicate marine ecosystem (Unesco Heritage since 1981), has intensified more and more since 1998, but in the last 5 years the situation now seems out of control. The Great Barrier Reef, which stretches for 2.300 km, has experienced three major mass bleaching events during the heatwaves that occurred in 2016, 2017 and 2020 and now he is about to experience another, equally worrying one.
Australia's plan to save the Great Barrier Reef
To try to save this extraordinary natural heritage the Canberra authorities have allocated one billion Australian dollars, to be spread over 9 years. The decision also came to prevent the Great Barrier Reef from being included in the UNESCO black list (in which Venice also risked ending up).
“We intend to support the health of the reef and the economic future of the tour operators and communities in Queensland that are at the heart of the reef economy,” announced Scott Morrison.
The funds will go to a series of projects aimed at limiting erosion, improving soil conditions and reducing the impact of substances that end up polluting the ocean. Another part of the funding, on the other hand, will be used to stem the phenomenon of illegal fishing and combat harmful species, including starfish (Purple Acanthaster) which devours corals and is proliferating due to pollution.
However, the Australian Conservation Foundation commented that improving water quality is key, but without concrete action against the climate crisis (and the resulting rise in temperatures) the Great Barrier Reef is doomed to death.
More efforts are needed to avert yet another major mass bleaching and truly protect this unparalleled treasure.
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