Exclusive: Coral reefs across parts of Australia's north may experience severe bleaching this summer
The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Bureau of Meteorology both say a lengthy period of warming out to March or beyond is likely, especially for waters off north-western WA.
Mass bleaching during the 2015-16 and 2016-17 summers blighted corals across much of the world, including the Great Barrier Reef. The latter lost at least half its coral cover during the unprecedented back-to-back events, scientists say. Still, the Bureau of Meteorology's forecasts indicate areas such as the Capricorn and Bunker reefs off Gladstone may reach the threshold of heat stress that could trigger bleaching.
The most recent significant bleaching at Ningaloo was in 2011 and should the NOAA and bureau predictions hold, this summer's event could be as bad or worse, he said.
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