Global climate change and coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef : final report to the State of Queensland Greenhouse Taskforce through the Department of Natural Resources and Mines

The waters of the Great Barrier Reef are warming and are predicted to continue to do so at an accelerated rate through the 21st Century. The increasing temperatures will lead to increased levels of coral bleaching, coral mortality and biodiversity depletion that could have serious consequences for the Reef's biodiversity, ecology, appearance and dependent recreational use and economic activity. Coral bleaching, some leading to death of corals, has been observed sporadically on the Great Barrier Reef since 1982, and most notably, widespread and seriously, in 1998 and 2002.