Coral bleaching – will global warming kill the reefs?
Useful sites
About coral reefs (International Coral Reef Information Network, USA)
An introduction to coral, coral polyps and coral reefs.
The Great Barrier Reef: Designed to survive (built to last?) (Australian Academy of Science)
Transcript of a talk that looks at research into the resilience of corals to environmental change.
Australian Institute of Marine Science
How the Great Barrier Reef was formed
Describes how the reefs in north-eastern Australia have developed over the last 20,000 years.
Fears of massive coral bleaching
A 2002 summary of the effects of rising sea temperatures on the Great Barrier Reef.
2002 Coral bleaching
Slides showing maps of increased sea temperatures around the Great Barrier Reef and photographs of unbleached and bleached corals.
Coral bleaching and global climate change (CRC Reef Research Centre, Australia)
Includes background information about coral bleaching with a focus on the Great Barrier Reef.
Australian Broadcasting Corporation (transcripts)
Ancient coral reefs (The Science Show, 14 October 2006)
Looks at the impact of rapid climate change on coral reefs.
Corals in hot water (Earthbeat, 28 February 2004)
Looks at a number of threats to corals from warmer ocean waters.
Coral bleaching (New Dimensions, 4 September 2002)
An interview with Dr Terry Done, an ecologist from the Australian Institute of Marine Science, and Dr David Etheridge, an atmospheric scientist from CSIRO.
Beautiful one day (Four Corners, 22 April 2002)
Reports on the risks the Great Barrier Reef faces. (There is a list of annotated links from this program available at Beautiful one day...related links.)
Coral bleaching: Current conditions report (Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Australia)
Summarises the current bleaching situation on the Barrier Reef.
Page updated September 2008.