'Hotting Up Seas' The World's Largest Australian Coral Reef Crisis

Australia's 'Great Barrier Reef' Experienced Marine Heatwave Late Last Month
Rising Sea Temperatures Increase Coral Disease Risk

The appearance of coral reefs

As seawater temperatures rise, Australia's Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest coral reef system, is facing a crisis.

According to the British daily The Guardian on the 21st (local time), a marine heatwave has occurred off the coast of Queensland, Australia, raising red flags about the health of marine life, including the Great Barrier Reef.

A marine heatwave refers to a phenomenon where sea surface temperatures exceed normal levels over thousands of kilometers for several days to months.

The Great Barrier Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is the world's largest coral reef area stretching along the Queensland coast. It is approximately 2,000 km long, more than twice the length of the Korean Peninsula from north to south.

According to satellite observation data from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a marine heatwave has been occurring since the end of last month, currently affecting 1 million km² of the northeastern Australian sea. Last month, sea surface temperatures near the coral reefs were the 12th highest on record for June, and temperatures are expected to remain above average until December.

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology expressed concern that seawater temperatures in many areas around the Great Barrier Reef are more than 1 degree Celsius higher than the average for this period. When a marine heatwave occurs, coral reefs are at greater risk of disease, and fish must be more active in searching for food in the warmer environment. This can affect fish populations.

Dr. Alex Sen Gupta, an associate professor at the University of New South Wales, told The Guardian, "More marine heatwaves are being observed worldwide than ever before," adding, "This is unprecedented at present. Warmer seawater inevitably affects animals and plants." Additionally, Professor Jody Lummer, a marine biologist at James Cook University in Australia, expressed concern, saying, "Marine heatwaves increase the metabolic rates of fish. If all organisms require more food, this puts a strain on the entire ecosystem."

Currently, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) officially declared an El Ni?o event earlier this month. El Ni?o is a phenomenon where sea surface temperatures near the equator abnormally rise, and this increase in seawater temperature could lead to coral bleaching and other effects.

Coral bleaching occurs when corals become stressed due to seawater temperatures rising above average, causing them to whiten, which slows growth and makes them vulnerable to disease. Between 2009 and 2018, about 14% of the world's coral reefs disappeared, with bleaching identified as the primary cause.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.