Great Barrier Reef Hit by Fifth Severe Bleaching in 8 Years, Record DHW Cited

Apr 15, 2024, 03:03 PM

The Great Barrier Reef is currently experiencing its most severe coral bleaching event on record, with significant damage observed as deep as 18 meters. This event, marked by the highest heat exposure on record for the southern region and record high Degree Heating Weeks, is the fifth major bleaching occurrence in just eight years. Scientists have noted that this year, over 60% of the reef has faced severe to extreme bleaching levels, affecting every type of coral and indicating no winners in the increasingly warm oceans. Orange and red reefs have been experiencing mass coral mortality since February, further exacerbating the situation. The global scientific community, including organizations like UNESCO and NOAA, has confirmed that this is part of a broader, fourth global coral bleaching event affecting reefs worldwide due to unprecedented oceanic heat levels.