Source:
Sydney Morning Herald (Oz)THE world's southernmost coral reef is on a knife edge, according to scientists who say this summer's above-average water temperatures have left Lord Howe Island's unique reef stressed and bleached.
In parts of the reef, especially areas around the island's lagoon, up to 95 per cent of corals have been bleached since January...
Professor Harrison said the situation, caused by warmer-than-usual waters carried south by the currents from the Great Barrier Reef, had been compounded by a period of light winds and little cloud cover...
Professor Harrison said the bleaching was significant for another reason. This, he said, was evidence that subtropical areas were not immune to the impact of climate change...
Read more:
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/coral-reef-on-lord-howe-bleached-by-summer-20100324-qwtn.html
Why we are choosing dead corals over living reefs is beyond my comprehension.
Still, after trashing this one, we always have Planet-B to fall back on.