The Great Barrier Reef suffers its worst summer on record: Corals experience ... trends now

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Scientists fear time is running out to protect the Great Barrier Reef, which is enduring one of its most extensive coral bleaching events.

The full extent of the impact is still unknown despite a 'gutwrenching' update on Wednesday which revealed almost three-quarters of the reef has been affected.

The reef has suffered the worst summer on record after being hit by two tropical cyclones and severe flooding plus an outbreak of coral-munching crown-of-thorns starfish.

This has culminated in one of the reef's most widespread and severe mass coral bleaching events on record.

The 2023/24 summer update was released by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, the Australian Institute of Marine Science and the CSIRO.

It gives insight into the reef's fifth mass bleaching in eight years due to heat stress driven by climate change.

James Cook University's Professor Terry Hughes said the shortening gap between bleaching events was a major concern, casting doubt over any subsequent full recovery.

'We've already seen back-to-back bleaching events in two consecutive years in 2016-17 and the last three events, including this one, have only been two years apart,' he told AAP.

'That's nowhere near enough for a full recovery or anything like it.'

University of Queensland's Selina Ward said the clock was ticking to take climate change action and protect the reef.