The Great Barrier Reef May Be Dying Faster Than We Thought
March 16, 2017 - The latest surveys spell more bad news for the Great Barrier Reef. Following a record high water surface temperature and mass bleaching event in 2016, the Australian icon may be on track for a similar event this year. Aerial and underwater footage from 2016 and 2017, shown in this video, shows the extent of the bleaching and die-off, which has already impacted large portions of the reef.
Read how "3D-Printed Reefs Offer Hope in Coral Bleaching Crisis."Learn more about corals.Footage courtesy ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies via Storyful
For the second year in a row, Australia's Great Barrier Reef may be undergoing a major coral bleaching event.
* Footage from 2016 and 2017
Bleaching occurs when rising water temperatures cause corals to expel colorful algae, resulting in the corals turning white.
Large portions of the great barrier reef have already died.
Scientists weren't expecting to see this level of destruction for another 30 years.
Recovery of bleached corals is possible if temperatures drop, but prolonged warming can result in more corals dying.
Less than 10 percent of the Great Barrier Reef has been unaffected by bleaching.
In addition to being a major tourism draw, the reef is home to more than 2,000 animal species.
