WEST AUSTRALIA -- Divers frequenting the waters of West Australia have noticed the change in temperature that occurred in the said body of water. According to scientists, the water temperature in the area has reached 34° Celsius. As comfortable as the temperature could be for human beings, it proves to be harmful, or even detrimental for the corals that live in these waters.
Divers have noted that a great expanse of the coral reefs in the area have experienced bleaching. The coral skeletons are now bright white as opposed to its former colorful glory.
The coral skeletons have yet to be eroded from where they are, but they remain to be a grim reminder of what was once there. The coral reefs of Western Australia may not be as famous as the Great Barrier Reef, but they pack a punch in size and diversity as well. The Cyclones have greatly affected these WA reefs too.
Recent studies show that the reefs in West Australia now have the lowest coral cover in the world on record.
When Rebecca Green witnessed coral bleaching for the first time, her primary concern came down to the possibility of regeneration for the corals. Green was later disappointed to find out that the regeneration of the corals will not happen any time soon.
"Probably not in this lifetime," said James Paton Gilmour. The reply may be simple and blunt even but it is based on the recovery process of the corals that have previously undergone coral bleaching. When the rate of recovery, together with the rising ocean temperatures, are taken into consideration, experts see that the condition of the corals could only get worse.
But such coral bleaching episodes does not only happen in West Australia. The said phenomenon happens around the world and scientists, who have spent time studying these ecosystems have seen the decline of a number of coral reefs, are still in search for the solution.
The results of this new study were published in the journal Coral Reefs. It is the first study to establish a historical account of eight coral reef systems and how it was affected by coral bleaching back in 2016.
The goal of the study was to provide an insider's perspective on how global warming is affecting the life growing under the waters of West Australia. The vast expanse of its effect on the coastline as well as the description of their current condition plays an important role in the fight against climate change.
