Even from space , researchers are able to watch theGreat Barrier Reef bleachingevent . For the first fourth dimension , scientists from the European Space Agency ( ESA ) have documented patches of the reef turning blank .
TheSentinal-2mission comprises of twin satellites that are in the same polar celestial orbit at 180 ° to each other . This means that they can both photograph exactly the same patch of land at the same resolution and domain , allow researchers to see how things might be changing over time . Due to the incredible declaration from these satellites , this has granted scientists the first opportunity to take note coral bleaching as it ’s happening from space .
It is hard to see the process pass off from reach . Just because a mend of the ocean is white , does not mean that bleaching has fall out , as this could be down to a number of reasons . This is why it is authoritative to have the twin satellites count at the same point over a period of meter , as it lets the scientist spot the severalise - tale normal .
Over a period of a few week at the beginning of the twelvemonth , the researchers at ESA were capable to watch over as the coral turned from a sorry color , to whiten . After a few weeks , the brilliant white coral then darkened again , but it is difficult to evaluate just what is run on here . This is because either one of two thing is take place : the precious coral has either recoup and gone back to normal , or it has pass away and become overgrown with algae .
While the cracking Barrier Reef has gone through bleaching events in the past times , these have typically happen at least every ten or so , giving the coral plentiful time to convalesce , and allowing the reef to live on . But in the last two days , the Rand has undergo an unprecedented two serial bleaching events .
Coral bleachingdoes not think of that the coral dies . It appears when the tiny photosynthetic organism that coral prevail onto , and which gives the coral not only the food for thought it needs to survive , but also its bright and beautiful colors , is turn out .
This happen when the red coral becomes stressed , such as when the water temperature ascend too much . By getting rid of this organism , the coral has no means of acquire energy , and turn ghostly white-hot . Yet the precious coral can still pull round . If the water temperature cut down within a few week , then the coral can take back up the organisms and return to normal .
Sentinel-2 can not tell whether or not this is happening , though recent sight on the Witwatersrand show thing are n’t looking good . In the northerly area it is thought that up to 50 percent of the reef is now dead , and it is seemingly spread in the south .
