The Great Barrier Reef Foundation extends its deepest respect and recognition to all Traditional Owners of the Great Barrier Reef as First Nations Peoples holding the hopes, dreams, traditions and cultures of the Reef. Surveys conducted by scientists at Australia’s James Cook University and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority show that a summer of extreme heat has caused the reef… A diver surveying damaged coral in the Great Barrier Reef after a mass bleaching in 2016. It might never recover. Tropical sea surface temperatures have risen by 0.4–0.5 °C since the late 19th century, with rapid, human-induced climate change the greatest overall threat to the long-term future of the Great Barrier Reef. The Great Barrier Reef is experiencing its most widespread coral bleaching event, according to scientists who say record warm temperatures and warming oceans are … According to the Australian Institute of Marine Science, the most recent (2017-18) survey of Moore reef showed 0-5% coral cover, compared with about 20% in the 1980’s. Featured image: A tourist snorkels above coral in the lagoon located on Lady Elliot Island on the Great Barrier Reef, 80 kilometers north-east from the town of Bundaberg in Queensland, Australia, June 9, 2015. Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article. Climate change Climate change is the greatest threat to the Great Barrier Reef and coral reefs worldwide. "The only effective way to improve the outcome for coral reefs is global action on greenhouse gasses. The Foundation is a registered Environmental Organisation in Australia and is eligible to receive tax deductible donations. The Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Australia is home to more than 400 kinds of coral. Rising sea temperatures mean the Reef is at greater risk of heat stress and mass coral bleaching, decreasing the capacity for corals to build skeletons—which act as key habitats for the Reef's irreplaceable marine life. 1 While the Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system, reefs around the world are under stress from warming ocean temperatures. The Great Barrier Reef must contend with ocean warming, acidification and extreme weather to stay alive amid record heat waves. Since the late 18th century, the earth’s oceans have absorbed about 30% of the additional carbon dioxide that human activities have injected into the atmosphere. One of the causes is global warming, which has been increasing the temperature of the ocean water resulting in coral bleaching. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority considers the greatest threat to the Great Barrier Reef to be climate change, causing ocean warming which increases coral bleaching. Over this time, the Great Barrier Reef experienced smaller coral bleaching events in select areas, namely in 1998, 2002 and 2006. A recent study found that ocean warming has killed half of the coral in Australia's Great Barrier Reef. © Getty images Study finds ocean warming has killed half the coral in Great Barrier Reef The Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Australia is home to more than 400 kinds of coral. But experts said the action may not be enough as Australia is one of the highest coal exporters, the Post noted. 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