Temperatures rising as El Nino effects start being felt
Reef health
Sea surface temperatures have increased to above average on the Great Barrier Reef, with the heat expected to rise even further into next month as the effects of one of the strongest El Ninos on record are felt.
Management body the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority issued a statement on Friday that the water temperatures on the surface were above the long-term average in all regions of the Reef ranging from the far north to the south.
“A strong El Nino is firmly established and expected to intensify, with forecasts suggesting it will peak in November or December and then continue into autumn 2027,” the GBGMPA stated.
“While El Nino can bring warmer and drier conditions, local weather systems may cause conditions to vary across the Reef.”
Sea-surface temperatures across the park increased by about one degree during October, and are half a degree above average in the Northern region and 0.3C above average in the Far Northern region.
The Authority is continuing to monitor the El Nino situation to help identify changes in Reef health and work out the best response as the conditions change.
The effects of the El Nino - which has been described by weather forecasters as the worst in living memory - have been blamed for exacerbating a series of intense storms across the Asia-Pacific in the past few months, including Typhoon Champi near Taiwan in October.
El Ninos occur every about two-seven years and generally last for about a year after warm waters pooling in the Pacific alter wind patterns to contribute to more extreme weather events.
