Well, folks, the Great Barrier Reef is dying. And it’s entirely our fault.
A study released yesterday by the Australian Institute of Marine Science shows that in less than thirty years, the Great Barrier Reef has lost half of its coral.
Corals are very temperature-sensitive, but the problem is they can’t migrate. Which means they’re stuck where they are and are slowly dying away.
But only ten percent of the dying coral – called “bleaching” – is due to temperature change.
Coastal storms caused 48 percent of the damage, leaving the remainder – 42 percent – attributed to the explosion in crown of thorns starfish population, which preys on coral.
That’s why they’re known as the “dicks of the ocean.” (In a lexicon I totally made up just now.)
An increase in the intensity of coastal storms is directly linked to planetary warming,
Along with plans by the Australian government to bring in coal and natural gas export facilities, which in turn brings a whole bunch of ships that can chip away at the reef and pollute the water.
So, I… guess get your Australian vacations in while you can?
Question: What’s the one natural landmark you have to see before you kick the bucket?
