The Great Barrier Reef is white, so it's time to say goodbye. ...

The Great Barrier Reef was once famous for its magnificent underwater world.

Now it has become a coral cemetery.

This natural wonder of the world

We may not live for 2 1 century, so we have to say goodbye to mankind.

Shows us the current situation of the Great Barrier Reef.

Located on the northeast coast of Australia

The Great Barrier Reef stretches for 2000 kilometers.

It is the largest biological structure in the world.

It is also the only creature visible to the naked eye in space.

In the picture, the Great Barrier Reef is in the white line area, with green dots representing coral reefs and white dots representing islands. Great Barrier Reef Foundation

Aerial photo of Hewitt coral reef in the northern center of the Great Barrier Reef.

2,600 coral reefs and 300 islands

More than 1500 species of fish and 400 species of coral.

4,000 species of mollusks, insects, crustaceans and echinoderms.

* * * isomorphism has become this sea of miracles.

The Great Barrier Reef is listed as one of the seven natural wonders of the world.

Yu 198 1 was included in the World Heritage List.

Two yellow-finned sticklebacks are swimming in a healthy coral reef.

However, nowadays, the once colorful underwater world

Is fading rapidly.

The overwhelming "albinism" is sweeping the Great Barrier Reef.

A dead coral reef on the Great Barrier Reef. When coral reefs are in this state, it is basically impossible to recover.

Bleaching is a phenomenon of coral decline.

As early as 19 14, American scholar T.W. Vaughan

Coral bleaching was discovered.

Coral is a white shell secreted by coral.

The main component is calcium carbonate, white.

Coral has different colors because it has tiny algae.

Healthy coral rich in algae? Great Barrier Reef Foundation

In the process of growth, algae will produce toxins.

Coral will secrete special chemicals to eliminate these toxins.

These chemicals usually have bright colors.

Therefore, corals in detoxification stage are often more vivid.

While it is green or brown under normal conditions.

The blue coral in the picture is detoxifying. This coral is located on the Alkujin Reef of the Great Barrier Reef.

Coral provides a basic living environment for algae.

Algae provide 95% nutrients for corals through photosynthesis.

If algae leave or die, corals will turn white.

Eventually died of the loss of nutrition supply.

Completely bleached coral

The whitening process is usually divided into two stages.

Fading period and final whitening, the fading period usually lasts for 2 weeks to 2 months.

Coral will not die immediately after final bleaching.

If seaweed can be recombined,

Then you can fully recover in 1-2 months.

Different stages of coral bleaching? National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (USA)

But long-term exposure, or rapid changes in the environment

Will lead to the permanent death of corals.

Under the current environmental conditions,

Albino corals have little chance of survival.

It mentioned coral bleaching.

But why do corals turn white?

This is actually a kind of "suicide behavior" of coral.

Large area of albino coral on the Great Barrier Reef? XL Kettering Seaview Survey

Due to global warming

The increase of water temperature will accelerate the metabolism of protoalgae.

More toxic substances will be released into corals.

Once the release rate exceeds the detoxification rate,

Corals will start to remove these algae to defend themselves.

But this behavior is tantamount to suicide.

Because the algae disappeared.

Coral loses its source of nutrition and will eventually die.

20 17 What is the current situation of coral bleaching in the Great Barrier Reef? Brett Monroe garner

In the past 20 years,

The Great Barrier Reef has experienced three large-scale coral bleaching.

During the period of 1998, albinism mainly occurred near the coastline.

The central and southern parts of the Great Barrier Reef

In 2002, albinism became more serious.

Directly spread to the central offshore.

The hardest hit area of 20 16 albinism is on the back of the Great Barrier Reef.

And spread slightly to the central region.

The distribution map of 20 16 coral bleaching decreases from north to south. Agricultural research Committee

And albinism is the most serious at 20 16.

The number of corals subjected to extreme bleaching is four times that of 1998 or 2002.

Among the corals surveyed,

Only 8.9% of corals escaped bleaching.

At present, global warming is the main factor threatening the survival of corals.

Abnormal sea surface temperature fluctuation map of the Great Barrier Reef in summer, 1990-20 17? bureau of meteorology australia

20 16 Average temperature change chart from February to April? bureau of meteorology australia

The above two icons are both released by the Australian Meteorological Bureau.

It can be seen from 1990-20 17.

The sea surface temperature of the Great Barrier Reef continues to rise in summer.

By the end of 20 16, it will be close to 1 celsius.

In the waters around Australia,

The highest sea surface temperature is in the northeast of the Great Barrier Reef.

The temperature rose by 65438 0 degrees Celsius.

Humans have no somatosensory changes.

But it's terrible for corals.

Every time the sea surface temperature rises 1- 1.5 degrees.

Coral will turn white in a large area.

Coral killed by Hurricane Debbie was washed up on the coast.

The temperature has risen by 4 degrees Celsius.

The mortality rate of coral bleaching will reach 90%-95%.

According to environmentalists, by the end of 2 1 century.

The global average temperature will rise by 4 degrees Celsius.

For corals, this is tantamount to disaster.

By then, the Great Barrier Reef may really say goodbye to humans.

Viewing the Great Barrier Reef from the Perspective of Economic, Social and Cultural Symbols

The economic value of the whole region is at least $56 billion.

The Great Barrier Reef provides 64,000 jobs.

It brings 6.4 billion dollars in revenue to Australia every year.

(Most of the income comes from tourism)

Every year, 2 million tourists visit the Great Barrier Reef.

The importance of seeing the Great Barrier Reef (at least economically).

All walks of life have participated in the protection of the Great Barrier Reef.

The Great Barrier Reef is located in the aquarium in townsville.

Stationed on the Great Barrier Reef for three months.

Photographed a group of works about the protection of the Great Barrier Reef.

And named it "underwater conscience".

Aerial photo of the Great Barrier Reef near the famous heart-shaped reef.

Giacomo is implementing the project.

I met many organizations that are doing research on coral reef protection.

One of the most important organizations is

AIMS Australian marine science society

Adriana Campili, a doctoral student in marine biology, is testing the coral aquarium in the laboratory of the Australian Marine Science Society.

AIMS has been studying coral protection for more than 40 years.

AIMS starts from 1972.

How to make tropical waters in Australia

Can continue to develop in the future

Their breakthrough in recent years lies in-

Establishment of National Navigation Simulator Laboratory

(National Marine Simulator)

AIMS national navigation simulator laboratory main laboratory

The National Marine Simulator Laboratory was opened on 20 13.

In this lab,

Scientists can use water tanks to simulate the marine environment.

Observing and studying coral reef ecosystem

Lee Bestin, a technician of marine simulator, is cultivating corals, mainly studying the different performances of corals in different years.

There are advanced technical means in the laboratory.

It allows scientists to control variables.

In order to accurately study different environmental factors

What effect will it have on corals?

An area of the marine simulator laboratory.

For example, the experimental area above.

Equipped with 840 independent LED lights.

You can switch out 22 different ambient lights.

This is mainly used for learning.

Illumination at different positions in the spectrum

What effect will it have on corals?

In addition to the marine simulator laboratory

AIMS has also joined forces with james cook University and Coral Research Center of Excellence.

Through the method of "assisted evolution"

Try to cultivate a kind of "super coral"

20 15 super mixed coral project sample

This mixed super coral

Is expected to resist extreme environmental changes.

This may be an effective method to prevent coral bleaching.

An AIMS researcher is observing the growth of mixed corals.

In addition to research institutions

Relevant commercial organizations are also involved in the protection work.

Mercury group is one of the most important groups in the Great Barrier Reef area.

A travel company focusing on snorkeling projects.

Douglas Baird, Environment and Compliance Manager, Quicksilver Group

Mercury Group will be near its snorkeling project.

A special metal net was placed deeper in the coral gravel.

These metal meshes will be electrified with extremely low voltage.

Special metal mesh placed by mercury group on coral gravel

Electricity with extremely low voltage can accelerate the accumulation of calcium carbonate.

Help the corals cultivated here grow rapidly.

Although a lot of protection work is being done on the Great Barrier Reef.

The pace of global warming cannot be stopped.

Giacomo said in an interview.

"If you don't take immediate action,

The Great Barrier Reef may have no future. "

Alexia Graba-Landry, a doctoral student at Coral Excellence Research Center, is observing the influence of different water temperatures on lanyu. In order to study the impact of global warming on the Great Barrier Reef ecosystem.

Andrew Baird, a marine biologist, cooperated with james cook University to study and monitor the coral state near the Great Barrier Reef.

In addition to global warming, the Great Barrier Reef is also facing

Seawater acidification hinders calcium carbonate accumulation.

Seawater pollution kills algae

Spiny-crowned starfish that prey on corals crazily.

Threats in many aspects, etc.

Spine-crowned starfish is the biggest natural enemy of coral.

A stream of sewage with eroded soil and sediments is flowing to the alley beach.

Giacomo shared.

"I never consider myself an environmentalist.

The Great Barrier Reef project has not changed since it ended.

My responsibility is to let more people see this situation.

Remind people of the environmental changes that are taking place. "

Marine biologist Haley Bryan is monitoring a century-old hard coral in the northern center of the Great Barrier Reef.

"If you can only send a message.

I hope everyone has * * * knowledge-

The Great Barrier Reef needs us to protect it at all costs. "

Author/Liu Shuai

Photography/giacomo Orlando

WeChat Editor/Wei Qingyu

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