Coral Bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef in 2021/2022
Coral bleaching hotspots around the Great Barrier Reef (illustrated in purple) from December 2021 - June 2022.
- Image ID 56402983
- Production Year 2024
- Length 00:00:13
- Production Company Earthtime
Synopsis
At the end of 2021 and into 2022, the Great Barrier Reef experienced a mass coral bleaching event for the fifth time in eight years.Bleaching occurs when corals are exposed to stressful conditions, such as high temperatures, pollution, or changes in the water’s chemistry, causing them to expel algae called zooxanthellae that gives them life and colour. The corals turn white and if the stressful conditions persist, they can die.The scale on this visualisation shows Degree Heating Week (DHW). DHW is an accumulation of instantaneous heat stress (Coral Bleaching Hotspots) over a 12-week running window. A DHW value of 4 degree Celsius-weeks (C-weeks) or greater is capable of causing sufficient stress for corals to bleach significantly.Full data records and further information can be found here: https://coralreefwatch.noaa.gov/product/5km/index_5km_dhw.php
Credit
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Production Companies
Earthtime