[News Terms] 'Marine Heatwaves' Threatening the World's Largest Coral Reef Colonies

'Marine heatwave (ocean heatwave)' is an extreme climate phenomenon occurring in the ocean, where the sea surface temperature rises above the normal level over thousands of kilometers, lasting from a few days to several months.

It increases the mortality rates of birds, fish, and marine mammals, induces the proliferation of harmful algae such as green tides, and significantly reduces the supply of marine nutrients. It causes coral bleaching and forces fish to move to colder waters, which is one of the causes of the rapid reduction in the extent of polar perennial snow.

A coast in Australia.
[Photo by Pixabay]

The British daily newspaper The Guardian reported on the 21st (local time) that a marine heatwave occurring along more than 2,000 km of the Queensland coast in Australia is raising concerns about the health of the Great Barrier Reef and other marine life. The Great Barrier Reef is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the world's largest coral reef area, stretching 2,300 km along the Queensland coast.

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, and currently, 100 km² of the sea northeast of Australia, where the Great Barrier Reef is located, is in a heatwave state. Last month, the sea surface temperature near the coral reef was the 12th highest ever recorded for June, and temperatures are expected to remain above average until December.

Grant Smith, a researcher at the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, reported that in many parts of the Great Barrier Reef and surrounding coral seas, sea water temperatures are more than 1 degree Celsius higher than the average for this period. Alex Sen Gupta, an associate professor at the University of New South Wales, Australia, said, "More marine heatwaves are being observed worldwide than ever before. This is unprecedented at present. The waters off northeastern Australia are clearly warm, and the warmer seawater inevitably affects animals and plants."

Jodie Rummer, a professor at James Cook University in Australia, pointed out that marine heatwaves increase the metabolic rate of fish, saying, "If everything requires more food, this puts a burden on the entire ecosystem."

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