The Great Barrier Reef (GBR) is home to hundreds of species of coral, fish, and other animals. Its total area is roughly the same as that of Italy or Germany. As the world’s largest coral reef ecosystem, the GBR supports more species per unit area than any other marine ecosystem. The reef also contributes around 6 billion dollars annually to Australia’s economy. However, the reef is under considerable stress due to a recently increasing trend in sea temperature, ocean acidification, sea level, and severe weather events. These factors are contributing to an overall decline in coral survivability and fertility.
Due to global warming, the ocean’s temperatures have gotten steadily warmer since the industrial era. Since 1929, average ocean temperatures …show more content…
However, anthropogenic climate change can contribute to rising sea levels in the form of ocean warming and ice melt. In the Great Barrier Reef, the annual average sea level has risen 2.6 mm per year since 1959. However, in the past 10 years, the sea level has risen an average of 11.8 mm per year. This spike in sea level can be directly correlated to anthropogenic causes. Although it may not be intuitive, coral are severely affected by sea level rise. Rapid rise in sea level can drown reefs in deeper water. Coral reefs drown when the ocean becomes so deep that they do not receive enough sunlight to support the colonies of photosynthetic algae that they rely on for growth. An increase in sea level can also hamper foraging and reproductive capabilities, stunting growth and …show more content…
Storms accounted for an astounding 34% of coral mortality from 1995-2009. The most immediate impacts of severe weather events are coral breakage, dislocation, and degradation from the wind and waves. However, storms also bring increased nutrients and sediments which can cause disease outbreaks, algae smothering, and murky water preventing light from reaching the algae on the coral. In addition, freshwater run-off from floods reduces salinity levels of the ocean, causing coral bleaching. However, the most detrimental impact of severe weather events emerges three years after a flood. Due to the increase in nutrients in the ocean, the crown-of-thorns starfish thrives preying on hard coral. In fact, this starfish accounted for 37% of coral mortality from 1995-2009. Obviously, preventing these natural disasters is impossible, but the rate at which they occur can be somewhat controlled. For example, in the last 30 years, the frequency of severe cyclones (Category 3-5) has almost doubled. Scientists believe this is due to the extreme El Niño’s that have been occurring in recent years. It is likely that global warming is increasing the rate of severe weather events around the
Due to global warming, the ocean’s temperatures have gotten steadily warmer since the industrial era. Since 1929, average ocean temperatures …show more content…
However, anthropogenic climate change can contribute to rising sea levels in the form of ocean warming and ice melt. In the Great Barrier Reef, the annual average sea level has risen 2.6 mm per year since 1959. However, in the past 10 years, the sea level has risen an average of 11.8 mm per year. This spike in sea level can be directly correlated to anthropogenic causes. Although it may not be intuitive, coral are severely affected by sea level rise. Rapid rise in sea level can drown reefs in deeper water. Coral reefs drown when the ocean becomes so deep that they do not receive enough sunlight to support the colonies of photosynthetic algae that they rely on for growth. An increase in sea level can also hamper foraging and reproductive capabilities, stunting growth and …show more content…
Storms accounted for an astounding 34% of coral mortality from 1995-2009. The most immediate impacts of severe weather events are coral breakage, dislocation, and degradation from the wind and waves. However, storms also bring increased nutrients and sediments which can cause disease outbreaks, algae smothering, and murky water preventing light from reaching the algae on the coral. In addition, freshwater run-off from floods reduces salinity levels of the ocean, causing coral bleaching. However, the most detrimental impact of severe weather events emerges three years after a flood. Due to the increase in nutrients in the ocean, the crown-of-thorns starfish thrives preying on hard coral. In fact, this starfish accounted for 37% of coral mortality from 1995-2009. Obviously, preventing these natural disasters is impossible, but the rate at which they occur can be somewhat controlled. For example, in the last 30 years, the frequency of severe cyclones (Category 3-5) has almost doubled. Scientists believe this is due to the extreme El Niño’s that have been occurring in recent years. It is likely that global warming is increasing the rate of severe weather events around the