By Mark Brook For Daily Mail Australia
Published: 07:01 BST, 5 April 2019 | Updated: 07:04 BST, 5 April 2019
View
comments
Marine scientists have released a map they claim shows the devastating effect of rising sea temperatures on the Great Barrier Reef.
The map, which was part of a recent study on global warming, showed a significant fall in coral growth since back-to-back heatwaves bleached the World Heritage site.
The researchers found consecutive summers of unusually warm seas caused mass bleaching, which stunted new coral growth by 89 per cent, news.com.au reported.
Marine scientists have released a shocking map that shows the devastating effect of rising sea temperatures on the Great Barrier Reef (pictured)
The 2,300km reef (pictured), which is home to 25 per cent of all ocean life, has already sustained four mass bleaching events - all within the last two decades
Bleaching occurs when an increase in sea temperature causes coral to produce algae as a result of photosynthesis, which drains them of their colour.
Co-author of the study, which was published in the journal Nature, Andrew Baird said the researchers never expected to see a
