Aerial surveys confirm that the Great Barrier Reef is experiencing its fifth mass coral bleaching event in eight years, with 78% of surveyed reefs showing moderate to severe bleaching as sea surface temperatures reach 2.1°C above the March average.
Survey Results
The Australian Institute of Marine Science has completed aerial and underwater surveys of 1,040 individual reefs spanning the full 2,300 km length of the reef system.
- 78% of reefs show moderate to severe bleaching (worst: 85% in northern section)
- Sea surface temperatures: 2.1°C above historical March average
- Marine heatwave classified as Category 3 — "severe" — for 47 consecutive days
- Coral mortality expected at 15-25% based on bleaching severity and duration
Long-Term Prognosis
Marine biologists warn that recovery time between bleaching events has shortened to the point where full recovery is impossible before the next event. The reef has lost an estimated 50% of its coral cover since 1995. Without dramatic global emissions reductions, scientists project functional collapse of the reef ecosystem by 2040.
