A “mass bleaching event” is unfolding on Australia’s famed Great Barrier Reef, authorities said Friday, as warming seas threaten the spectacular home to thousands of marine species.
by Wagamaga
A “mass bleaching event” is unfolding on Australia’s famed Great Barrier Reef, authorities said Friday, as warming seas threaten the spectacular home to thousands of marine species.
by Wagamaga
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Often dubbed the world’s largest living structure, the Great Barrier Reef is a 2,300 kilometre (1,400 mile) expanse of tropical corals that house a stunning array of biodiversity.
But repeated mass bleaching events have threatened to rob the tourist drawcard of its wonder, turning banks of once-vibrant corals into a sickly shade of white.
“We know the biggest threat to coral reefs worldwide is climate change. The Great Barrier Reef is no exception,” Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said in a statement.
“We need to act on climate change. We need to protect our special places and the plants and animals that call them home.”
The damaging mass bleaching event—the seventh since 1998—was confirmed by government scientists following aerial surveys of 300 shallow reefs.
Human made climate change is __already__ destroying our planet. Even people’s homes. Unfortunately they’re poor people in poor countries. It will take similar events right on US soil to finally shut (99% of) the deniers up.
It’s just sad (sometimes infuriating), and what can we do?
At least my lifestyle is not actively driving climate change…