After causing severe crop damage in several parts of the world, El Nino is about to add another feather to its destruction cap.
As per scientists, if the ongoing El Nino phenomenon, which happens to be one of the strongest in 20 years, does not take a halt, parts of Great Barrier Reef may face permanent destruction.
The Great Barrier Reef, which is also a world heritage site, has been witnessing severe bleaching for the last 15 years. El Nino is caused due to the warming of the oceans in the western Pacific.
These conditions, unfortunately, are ideal for coral bleaching. At the time of bleaching, these corals expel living algae, resulting in their calcification. Corals are only capable of surviving within a narrow band of ocean temperature.
The most devastating bleaching has occurred in the Lizard Island off the tropical city of Cairns. Here harsh sunlight has resulted in 80 percent bleaching of its corals. Bleaching explicitly states that corals are living in some physiological stress. If the pressure prevails for a longer period, it results in the death of these corals.
According to scientists, for the survival of corals, a break in El Nino conditions is a necessity and that too within a few weeks itself.
However, as per the forecast by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, El Nino is likely to prevail as of now. The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is the largest living ecosystem in the world and is responsible for a large portion of the tourism revenue.
While UNESCO has not placed the Barrier Reef on the danger list but Climate Change and El Nino together have been putting the reef in immense danger.
Image Credit: green-mom.com
Story First Published by Reuters
