Is this the end of the Great Barrier Reef?

[leftcoastmountains]

There have been only a handful of major bleaching events in the Great Barrier Reef's 8000-year existence. They first emerged in the early 1980s, with the 1998 and 2002 events regarded by scientists as the worst.
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At least until this latest one.

This time more than 1000 kilometres of reef has been subjected to some extent of bleaching. The pristine northern stretches between Cooktown and the Torres Strait have been hit the hardest, with images emerging of ghostly white reefs from places such as Lizard Island.

The event's spread and intensity has again raised uncomfortable questions about the damage climate change is doing to Australia's most important natural tourism site.

Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, a prominent marine scientist who has studied coral reefs for decades, says he has little doubt about what is behind the bleaching.

"This event, I would say with 99 per cent certainty, is being driven by anthropogenic climate change," he says

http://www.smh.com.au/national/is-this-the-end-of-the-great-barrier-reef-20160405-gnyuxe.html

[2naSalit]

1. Most likely

Just look at how quickly everyone is rushing to do anything about ocean acidification and all the other root causes of this horrible event.

[yourpaljoey]

2. Goodby wonderful reefs, goodbye Great Kelp Forrests

We are so so very sad to see you go.