El Nino threat to coral at Great Barrier Reef

The El Nino is a result of a warming of the ocean in the western Pacific ,ideal conditions for coral bleaching, where coral expels living algae, causing it to calcify. Coral can only survive within a narrow band of ocean temperature. 

The scientists said areas of the Great Barrier Reef, a world heritage site, are experiencing the worst bleaching in 15 years. 

Coral around Lizard Island off the tropical city of Cairns has seen the most widespread bleaching, with 80 percent of its coral bleached under unrelenting sunlight, said Dr Anne Hoggett, director, Lizard Island Research Station. 

“Bleaching is a clear signal that living corals are under physiological stress,” said Dr Russell Reichelt, chairman of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority said. “What happens now will be entirely dependent on local weather conditions,” said Reichelt. Scientists said the Great Barrier Reef needs a break in El Nino conditions within weeks if some coral areas are to survive. 

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology’s most recent forecast calls for a continuation of El Nino conditions.  2016 could be even hotter due to the El Niño weather pattern, the World Meteorological Organization. 

The Great Barrier Reef stretches 2,000 kms along Australia’s northeast coast and is the world’s largest living ecosystem. It brings in billions of dollars a year in tourism revenue.