Great Barrier Reef suffers 'widespread' bleaching event

Authorities said Friday that the Great Barrier Reef has been hit with widespread bleaching, as higher-than-average ocean temperatures threaten the World Heritage site.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority said that there was damage to the corals due to heat stress.

The authority said in its weekly update that bleach has been detected across the Marine Park, but it is variable across multiple regions.

The marine park's sea temperatures ranged between two and four degrees above average over the past week, while the far north and inshore areas recorded temperatures between two and five degrees above average.

The most heavily impacted reefs are in the region. There have 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266

The decision on its heritage listing will be made in June, after a UNESCO trip to the reef to inspect the site's health.

Bleaching occurs when healthy corals become stressed by high ocean temperatures, causing them to expel algae from their tissues, draining them of their vibrant colors.

There have been five mass bleaching events on the Great Barrier Reef caused by warm sea temperatures since 1997.

Climate change drives more extreme weather and has battered the reef.

The crown-of-thorns starfish have eaten away at the coral.

While recent changes are not yet classified as a mass bleaching event, the Australian Marine Conservation Society described the report as "disastrous news" because of the cooler ocean temperatures associated with a La Nina weather pattern.

Lissa Schindler, the society's campaign manager, said it shows the consistent pressure our reef is under from global heating.

A healthy reef can recover from coral bleaching. It is not getting this time because of the burning of coal and gas.

Australia's conservative government earlier this year announced new funding in order to prevent the reef from being removed from UNESCO's World Heritage list.

Australia created a plan to protect the reef after the UN threatened to change the World Heritage listing.

The pace of decline is believed to have been stopped by the measures, but much of the world's largest reef system has already been damaged.

A recent study shows that 98 percent of the reef has been affected by the weather.

The Great Barrier Reef was added to the list in 1981 for its superlative natural beauty.

The list is not fixed and can be changed or even removed by the UN body.

Some nations have their sites added to gain international attention to help save them, and others see it as a betrayal.

There will be a new year in 2022.

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