A photo from open sources Great Barrier Reef in recent years “lost weight” twice. Great Barrier Reef, located at the Australian coast over the past 27 years has undergone serious changes and lost about half of the coral. Specialists conducted analysis of over two thousand scientific works performed in previous almost 30 years, and found that destruction is directly related to climate change, writes The Los Angeles Times. As the causes of what is happening, scientists call the damage done by storms and hurricanes that are increasing year after year due to the increase the average water temperature in the ocean, the loss of their corals natural color (again due to warming) and the effects of poisonous starfish (crown of thorns) feeding on coral polyps. Affects the situation and the increase in acidity in the ocean, detrimental affecting reefs, more and more, according to scientists reminiscent of isolated reef islands. Most damage to the Great Barrier Reef inflicted in the last 14 – 15 years. From 1985 to 2012 they died over 50% of coral polyps. In addition, as stated in the report, the threat loomed not only over the reef itself. Coral extinction changes the chemical composition of ocean water, the direction of flow, and also leads to the death of many species of fish living in the reef area, reports Gulfnews. In case the measures to save the Big Barrier reef does not start taking now, its area in ten years it will be reduced by half, they make a forecast specialists. The emphasis they propose to do is to control starfish population. This option is most acceptable among others, since fighting hurricanes and warming is much harder, if not impossible. Meanwhile international Greenpeace environmental organization launched a project in Australia called Save the Reef. The main object of criticism by environmentalists became the Australian coal industry which according to their claims have a direct impact on the worsening situation since mining Coal is conducted on the coast in the immediate vicinity of the reef. IN as part of this campaign, an animated video about the extent of the threat.
Arkady AZAEV
PHOTO: AP
Australia Water Global Warming
