Draft script: According to Australia’s ABC News, the Great Barrier Reef is experiencing heat stress. The article at ABC News was written by distinguished professor Terry Hughes at James Cook University. It was originally published in The Conversation
It seems scientists despairing is the order of the day. With good reason, too. I know you have a special affinity for the Great Barrier Reef, Kevin. Seeing it in the throes of death is devastating.
"Three quarters of the Great Barrier Reef has been hit in a widespread coral bleaching sparked by a marine heatwave, with aerial survey results revealing a major bleaching event is unfolding all the way along the 2300 kilometre ecosystem."
Thank you for your heartfelt comment, Kevin. I knew this post would elicit the stories you’ve told me. Our generation was fortunate to see the living planet as it thrived. We are unfortunate to see the demise of the living planet.
I appreciate your comment, sad though it is. It’s a reminder of what we’ve lost and what we continue to lose. Thank you, too, for restacking my post.
I first dived the Great Barrier Reef 23 years ago. At the time, a marine biologist in Cairns conducted a seminar that I attended and said that the reef had only a generation of life left in it.
At the time I thought he was exaggerating for effect, what I'm now accused of!
It takes 15 years for a coral reef to recover from a serious bleaching event, a time frame that will never happen ever again.
I once did an 800 mile 6-week sail down the Great Barrier Reef diving and snorkelling every day.
No other generation will be able to have that experience.
In September last year Guy and I discussed this very issue, we would much rather have been proven wrong. I've added this analysis to that discussion for further reference, I'll post it below.
I've heard coral reefs being described as the "Incubator of the Marine Life." That incubator is dying.
The Great Barrier Reef provides habitat for over 9000 species. To not expect its demise to domino throughout the marine food web would be wilfully ignorant.
The Great Barrier Reef looks like it has been "Carpet Bombed."
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/may/01/great-barrier-reef-coral-bleaching-crisis?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3qoLX_LrVkLDGTVbHJbpFtcSJxsP-Nd16uC-nqDbg9fsdfzU1tesFxVAs_aem_AcjNrpTA1T535ejZHhLiWAi2WnWw4uThQqEFb4O9bahqggoPxJ8aZn6b5BF7_pRhnw34U5DrAuZOTDWRfsAnz3M9
Ack!
"Every single one of the sites we went to, the bleaching was unbelievably severe. It's the worst I've seen and I can't get my head around it."
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8588873/scientists-despair-as-even-deep-corals-cook/?fbclid=IwAR27sT0JNi9ux2COkWqgza44oVl9gVW1cD0MNdzvLLrnU3Ux59VlbBJnPrA
It seems scientists despairing is the order of the day. With good reason, too. I know you have a special affinity for the Great Barrier Reef, Kevin. Seeing it in the throes of death is devastating.
"Three quarters of the Great Barrier Reef has been hit in a widespread coral bleaching sparked by a marine heatwave, with aerial survey results revealing a major bleaching event is unfolding all the way along the 2300 kilometre ecosystem."
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/unprecedented-spread-of-coral-bleaching-along-great-barrier-reef-20240406-p5fhu4.html?fbclid=IwAR01wF_GRFVMbxxr8CEE5AkpY0799E2Sxi5Uy_Tv7nPIO6_dSdV4kovwCd8
Ack!
Thank you for restacking my post, Rick Rogers
Thank you for your heartfelt comment, Kevin. I knew this post would elicit the stories you’ve told me. Our generation was fortunate to see the living planet as it thrived. We are unfortunate to see the demise of the living planet.
I appreciate your comment, sad though it is. It’s a reminder of what we’ve lost and what we continue to lose. Thank you, too, for restacking my post.
🌍🔥👻
Exactly, Grant … in pictures rather than words. Thank you for restacking my post!
I first dived the Great Barrier Reef 23 years ago. At the time, a marine biologist in Cairns conducted a seminar that I attended and said that the reef had only a generation of life left in it.
At the time I thought he was exaggerating for effect, what I'm now accused of!
It takes 15 years for a coral reef to recover from a serious bleaching event, a time frame that will never happen ever again.
I once did an 800 mile 6-week sail down the Great Barrier Reef diving and snorkelling every day.
No other generation will be able to have that experience.
In September last year Guy and I discussed this very issue, we would much rather have been proven wrong. I've added this analysis to that discussion for further reference, I'll post it below.
I've heard coral reefs being described as the "Incubator of the Marine Life." That incubator is dying.
The Great Barrier Reef provides habitat for over 9000 species. To not expect its demise to domino throughout the marine food web would be wilfully ignorant.
https://kevinhester.live/2023/09/01/fukushima-daiichi-adds-insult-to-injury-for-the-pacifics-coral-reefs/