Australia: Great Barrier Reef waters warmest in 400 years – DW – 08/07/2024
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Record water temperatures have led to more and more mass bleaching events along the Great Barrier Reef. Experts warn the reef is running out of time.

Record water temperatures have led to more and more mass bleaching events along the Great Barrier Reef. Experts warn the reef is running out of time.

Water temperatures along the Great Barrier Reef off the northeast coast of Australia have hit a 400-year high, according to a major new study, which concludes that human-induced climate change is the most likely cause.

Using coral samples to reconstruct sea temperatures dating back as far as the 17th century, scientists found that temperatures before 1900 had been relatively stable, but that they had been increasing on average by 0.12 degrees Celsius (0.2 degrees Fahrenheit) per year since 1960.

“These are corals that have lived for 400 years and these are the warmest temperatures they’ve experienced,” said Helen McGregor, co-author of the study which was published in the science journal Nature in Australia on Thursday.

  • bbbbbbbbbbbEnglish
    15•1 month ago

    Spoiler: Governments dont care, its already too late. Admire what you can because thats going to be gone within the century

    • @[email protected]English
      6•1 month ago

      The sad truth is that most people don’t care either. They say they do, but don’t act on it. Barely anyone stopped flying to their yearly vacation, barely anyone reduced their meat and dairy consumption, an increasing amount of people are wearing fast throwaway fashion. If the governments implemented the drastic measures we need they would be hanged by an angry mob of morons who won’t understand the dire situation until they die of a heatstroke.

      • @[email protected]English
        5•1 month ago

        Every government should put an increasingly aggressive carbon tax on everything.

        Then take that money and directly give it back to everyone in the country as UBI. So if you made no carbon you just make money, if you pollute like fuck then you pay for it.

        The only way to solve this is with cost. People don’t give a shit about anything else.

        • @[email protected]English
          4•1 month ago

          We had a very effective carbon tax, then the mining companies ran a massive scare campaign and the opposition was voted in and scrapped it immediately. I think it’s worth trying again but I doubt the political will is there anymore after what happened last time.

    • @[email protected]English
      3•1 month ago

      Yup, 10 years ago I tried so hard to get my peers to care, now they all care but I’m disillusioned and don’t give a fuck.

      When they ask why, I tell them “it’s already too late, there’s just no realistic way we stop climate change with our current global society. The time to care has passed.”

      In my opinion, the best option is to smoke some weed and enjoy the show. Remember, life is pointless, you have to find your own meaning and happiness. Humanity might fall but you can still find happiness during your life. And remember the earth will live on, with or without us.