Greenies spewin' - Great Barrier Reef study shows greatest coral cover on record
Thursday, 04 August 2022
The northern and central Great Barrier Reef have recorded their highest amount of coral cover since the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) began monitoring 36 years ago.
Great news for people who care about the reef.
Crap news for Greenie propagandists who selfishly use the reef to advance their political cause.
The northern and central Great Barrier Reef have recorded their highest amount of coral cover since the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) began monitoring 36 years ago.
Published today, AIMS’ Annual Summary Report on Coral Reef Condition for 2021/22shows another year of increased coral cover across much of the Reef.
In the 87 representative reefs surveyed between August 2021 and May 2022 under the AIMS Long-Term Monitoring Program (LTMP), average hard coral cover in the region north of Cooktown increased to 36% (from 27% in 2021) and to 33% in the central Great Barrier Reef (from 26% in 2021).
However, average coral cover in the southern region (from Proserpine to Gladstone) decreased from 38% in 2021 to 34%.
AIMS CEO Dr Paul Hardisty said the results in the north and central regions were a sign the Reef could still recover, but the loss of coral cover in the southern region showed how dynamic the Reef was.
“A third of the gain in coral cover we recorded in the south in 2020/21 was lost last year due to ongoing crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks,” he said.
“This shows how vulnerable the Reef is to the continued acute and severe disturbances that are occurring more often, and are longer-lasting.”
Dr Hardisty said the increased frequency of mass coral bleaching events was “uncharted territory” for the Reef, with this year’s bleaching event the fourth in seven years and the first to occur during a La Niña.
“In our 36 years of monitoring the condition of the Great Barrier Reef we have not seen bleaching events so close together,” he said.
“Every summer the Reef is at risk of temperature stress, bleaching and potentially mortality and our understanding of how the ecosystem responds to that is still developing.
“The 2020 and 2022 bleaching events, while extensive, didn’t reach the intensity of the 2016 and 2017 events and, as a result, we have seen less mortality. These latest results demonstrate the Reef can still recover in periods free of intense disturbances.”
AIMS monitoring program team leader Dr Mike Emslie said the 2022 results built on the increases in coral cover reported for 2021, with most of the increase continuing to be driven by fast-growing Acropora corals.
“These corals are particularly vulnerable to wave damage, like that generated by strong winds and tropical cyclones,” he said.
“They are also highly susceptible to coral bleaching, when water temperatures reach elevated levels, and are the preferred prey for crown-of-thorns starfish. This means that large increases in hard coral cover can quickly be negated by disturbances on reefs where Acropora corals predominate.”
Dr Emslie said climate change was driving increasingly frequent and longer-lasting marine heatwaves.
“The peak of the most recent bleaching event in March occurred when the accumulated heat stress caused widespread bleaching but not extensive mortality,” he said.
“The increasing frequency of warming ocean temperatures and the extent of mass bleaching events highlights the critical threat climate change poses to all reefs, particularly while crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks and tropical cyclones are also occurring. Future disturbance can reverse the observed recovery in a short amount of time.”
Background
The 36-year-long dataset of AIMS’ Long-Term Monitoring Program (LTMP) is the largest, longest, and most comprehensive information source on the health of the Great Barrier Reef. It helps determine long-term trends in the condition of coral communities across the Reef.
Percent hard coral cover describes the proportion of the reef that is covered in living hard coral. In 2021-22, most reefs surveyed had between 10 and 50 percent.
Bleaching is a coral’s response to stressful conditions such as heat. During bleaching, the coral animal loses its symbiotic algae and pigments, causing it to turn white and potentially die. Corals can survive a bleaching event, but they are under more stress.
The LTMP contributes to the Reef 2050 Integrated Monitoring and Reporting Program.
Learn more about the LTMP and access detailed data displays at the level of individual reefs or regions.
In climate matters, the use of the words "the science" is intended to be a conclusive response, a "shut up, you idiot" device.
Its soul mate in energy matters is "renewables will bring the price of electricity down". Or the universal debate finisher: "the problem arises because of past under-investment in renewables".
Both are part of the daily drip-feed of repeating lies, controlling vocabulary and suppressing free expression - all under the overarching superstructure of that heady cocktail of anti-science, irrational ideology, suppression of free speech and cultural Marxism.
Posted by: Manning | Thursday, 04 August 2022 at 09:21 AM
James Cook University got rid of professor telling truth.
Troughers won't be happy. Who got all that money Turnbull Morrison throw at reef? Sharks? Old Sting Ray? Or the big whales?
Posted by: ming | Thursday, 04 August 2022 at 09:33 AM
Another blow for the climate scammers.
Drop in air pollution has INCREASED global warming because clean air does not contain aerosol particles that reflect sunlight and cool the Earth.
Scientists have found a great paradox in nature – clean air is enhancing global warming, while pollution keeps our planet cool.
A team of international researchers determined current pollution rates are 30 percent lower than in 2000, but warming from carbon dioxide emissions have increased by up to 50 percent.
Pollution particles, like sulfate or nitrate, are known for reflective properties and are typically found in exhaust.
The team, in a desperate move, suggests turning to aerosols once more, but by using a controversial type of geoengineering to do so.
This method, called solar engineering, entails launching sulfate particles into the stratosphere that would in turn create a reflective haze around the globe, Science.org reports.
The study, led by Leipzig University, brings good news for human health – these particles are linked to millions of deaths each year – but is grim for what the future holds for humanity.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-11040557/Drop-air-pollution-INCREASED-global-warming-study-reveals.html
*** Pollution is causing global warming BUT decreasing the amount of pollution causes global warming *** That makes a mockery of there argument. ***
Posted by: Philip | Thursday, 04 August 2022 at 09:33 AM
Where is the apology to Peter Ridd?
Posted by: Dee Dee | Thursday, 04 August 2022 at 09:34 AM
I can see people being sacked for reporting such good news.
Posted by: Bob Hay | Thursday, 04 August 2022 at 09:55 AM
Haha.
Such a shame.
Posted by: ShortWellah | Thursday, 04 August 2022 at 09:56 AM
Like they did to Prof. Ridd
Posted by: Robbo | Thursday, 04 August 2022 at 10:02 AM
This is the level of the insanity you are dealing with. Its a money laundering racket in my opinion. It has nothing to do with science.
In the mean time at the European Parliament... I don’t know what’s more disturbing, the unhinged man screaming or the EU parliament morons clapping for him.
https://gab.com/AussieAnne/posts/108760782554471078
Posted by: Julie | Thursday, 04 August 2022 at 10:14 AM
Yesterday at the Press Club, Adam Bandt told all and sundry that the Reef was dying ( again ...for the 60th time ), so somebody is lying. I think I know who.
The fact people actually turned up is also worrying...the room should have been empty.
Posted by: Glenn | Thursday, 04 August 2022 at 10:31 AM
And don't forget, AIMS only FLIES OVER THE REEF to do their assessment! They do not go diving to see what the real coverage is. As shown time & time again by Dr Jennifer Marohasy.
Posted by: kentlfc | Thursday, 04 August 2022 at 11:31 AM
Wealth redistribution scams are baked into much of the climate craziness.
If a little of that wealth - still a vast amount in dollar terms - ends up in the pockets of merchant bankers and other rent seekers, then the Marxists simply see that as collateral damage (or as establishment costs in creating a new world order).
Posted by: Manning | Thursday, 04 August 2022 at 11:51 AM
Where has that dill gone who for years has been telling us every fortnight or so that the whole Great Barrier Reef has just been killed stone dead?
Neither Lazarus nor Collingwood nor even maggotty Labor-voters have returned from the grave as frequently.
You don't get to be a member of the Australian LIARS Party or their intellectual, scientific and meteorological mentors, the Brown Movement, by being a scrupulously truthful or honest person.
Posted by: Up The Workers! | Thursday, 04 August 2022 at 12:01 PM
Most REAL studies concerning the GB reef found exactly the same.........even after the Crown of Thorns starfish 'invasion' it bounced back!
Posted by: CountryBumpkin | Thursday, 04 August 2022 at 12:03 PM
Mighty Mo and his Mob's legacy - rivers and dams that are full, plus the Reef in the best condition ever! Well done team!
Posted by: Iain Russell | Thursday, 04 August 2022 at 12:19 PM
No surprise, many well informed scientists including Professor Peter Ridd and Doctor Jennifer Marohasy have been reporting, photographing, writing and lecturing about the very good health of our living Great Barrier Reef, and have pointed out that the UN and fellow traveller claims otherwise are deceptive.
Few seem to realise the global climate hoax politics and tactics used against people and nations that dare to question the hoax basis. PM Abbott was a victim and around the same time the PMs of Canada and New Zealand lost their leadership roles, they three were climate sceptics who understand that climate and weather are natural Earth Cycles, the planet has been much warmer than the present, and much colder, over and over again. The last warming now stalled followed the Maunder Minimum (solar activity decline) called The Little Ice Age that ended a couple of hundred years ago, and the ice has melted again as the warming progressed.
The UN and other deceivers use the GBR as a threat, they understand how important tourism to QLD is and that the GBR is a major tourist attraction, so they threaten to declare the reef to be in danger of collapse. They know that is a lie.
Posted by: Dennis Thompson | Thursday, 04 August 2022 at 12:31 PM
All good folks, the ratbags in Canberra have agreed to set a new emissions target to stop the weather and long term climate, Mother Nature would be laughing at them.
Posted by: Dennis Thompson | Thursday, 04 August 2022 at 12:33 PM
Watched some of that he also said he will stop exporting coal and gas.
NOT ONE gutless reporter had the guts to ask, coal and gas exports are worth X amount of Billions of $'s to the economy and employ thousands of people EXACTLY how will you make up for this lost revenue?
Posted by: Philip | Thursday, 04 August 2022 at 12:34 PM
We cannot trust most of the media, they are left leaning or hard left.
As for the Greens, they know no shame, today's news wont stop them from trying to deceive people.
Posted by: Dennis Thompson | Thursday, 04 August 2022 at 12:35 PM
Brandt should take a step back and drop off the edge of the world.
Posted by: Brizziebussie | Thursday, 04 August 2022 at 12:35 PM
So all it needed for the GBR to magically recover was a change of government.
Posted by: Westy | Thursday, 04 August 2022 at 12:36 PM
The brief bit I heard this morning indicates the man is bordering on unhinged.
No wonder the kids are suffering depression and anxiety, if they took any of his tripe on board without a good stiff dose of reality to balance the nonsense.
Did the people in the room actually believe what he prattled? Surely, no matter how gullible the media are, there reaches a point when you have to suspend belief about much of what he was saying.
Posted by: Titch2 | Thursday, 04 August 2022 at 12:46 PM
Michael,
We never heard what happened to the $443.000 Turnbull gave to ?????
Posted by: Liz of Vic | Thursday, 04 August 2022 at 12:57 PM
That was yet another questionable funding allotment from the LNP.
#moneymanagers
Posted by: Taser | Thursday, 04 August 2022 at 12:57 PM
“The 2020 and 2022 bleaching events, while extensive, didn’t reach the intensity of the 2016 and 2017 events and, as a result, we have seen less mortality. These latest results demonstrate the Reef can still recover in periods free of intense disturbances.”
Great to see, and maybe something to learn from.
Hopefully the southern region of the reef can do the same as the north and have some recovery.
Posted by: Taser | Thursday, 04 August 2022 at 01:00 PM
My uncle and aunt honeymooned on Hayman Is in 1952.
Do you know what was happening there in 1952?
THE REEF WAS DYING - THE SCIENTISTS SAID SO.
Now, in 2022, the reef is alive and well and that bunch of scientists is now dead.
Posted by: toorightmate | Thursday, 04 August 2022 at 02:17 PM
Earlier Scomo said he had checked and countered the accusation that the "reef" was in trouble and the Greenies would be going to U.N.O.,leading up to the election; he advised that on checking it was more healthy and therefore the United Nations would leave it alone. How many times does this have to be muddied?
Posted by: Hilary | Thursday, 04 August 2022 at 02:22 PM