Large Portions Of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef Dead, Scientists Make Shocking Claim

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Mar 16, 2017 01:27 PM EDT

One of the world's beautiful natural wonders with a size that can be viewed from the outer space is on the verge of extinction. The Great Barrier Reef with its breathtaking underwater landscape and life attracts tourists all across the globe.

In fact, not just tourists, the Great Barrier Reef has been the center of attraction for scientists and researchers to conduct studies and researches on it. Sadly, the natural attraction that stretches across thousands of kilometers to the north has been found dead.

According to The Weekly Observer, the actual reason for such as horrific disaster has been related to overheating of seawater. That's not all, the southern part in the middle of the Great Barrier Reef has also started to bleach leaving the scientists in shock.

"We didn't expect to see this level of destruction to the Great Barrier Reef for another 30 years," said Terry P. Hughes, director of a government-funded center for coral reef studies at James Cook University in Australia. Professor Hughes also hoped the die off this time wouldn't be as serious as last time.

Even though the case of back to back bleach has never occurred in Australia, things have been different lately. The southern section and the central section has been badly affected due to human pollution. The reported damage to the world's largest living structures has been due to global warming.

A paper that was published last Thursday, the scientist claimed that the disaster is extremely damaging and third worldwide mass bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef since 1998. The condition of the reef might reflect the health of the sea, The New York Times reported.

Interestingly, Hughes claimed that climate change is not a threat to the Great Barrier Reef since this has been happening for last 18 years now. Moreover, he had led surveys across the Reef that showed that several patches the Great Barrier Reef is dead and' it won't recover soon.

All these damages clearly show it is the result of global warming. The researchers feel if the death and bleaching go on continuing in the Great Barrier Reef, the world might lose its colorful creatures.

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