Western Australia coral reefs at risk from highest ocean temperatures in 215 years

High ocean temperatures off the West Australian coast are “unprecedented since at least 1795” and pose a significant threat to the state’s coral reefs, scientists say.

Bleaching Area Alert
on the US NOAA Satellite and Information Service

“Ocean temperatures have warmed so much and sea levels have risen so much over the last 150 years that every natural event is amplified,” Zinke said. “So any future heatwave is probably going to be more extreme. We’ve crossed this line where coral bleaching can now occur on a large scale.”