MODIS Sea Surface Temperature Data Shows Increased Temperatures in Southern Great Barrier Reef
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Coral bleaching may be one of the greatest threats to the Great Barrier Reef. Coral bleaching is a stress response that often occurs when the surrounding waters become too warm for the corals. In the stressful situation, the corals expel their brownish zooxanthellae and lose their color. Zooxanthellae are unicellular yellow-brown algae that make it possible for the corals to grow and reproduce quickly enough to create reefs. Without the zooxanthellae, the coral cannot obtain sufficient nourishment. If conditions remain difficult, the corals may die. Major coral bleaching incidents on the Great Barrier Reef in 1998 and 2002 led to widespread death of corals in some areas. Researchers in the Barrier reef of Australia are using NASA's resources to help identify troubled coral. Currently, the most severe coral bleaching occurs over inshore reefs where the Sea Surface Temperatures are showing increased temperatures.
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Sea Surface Temperature of the Southern Great Barrier Reef shows increased temperatures at the most severe coral bleaching sites.
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Sea Surface Temperature Colortable
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Herron Island is in the southern Great Barrier Reef and is part of the Capricorn Group of Islands, just off of the Capricorn Coast.
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This is an IKONOS image of coral bleaching around Herron Island in the Great Barrier Reef.
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