Extreme temperatures along Ningaloo Reef detected 300 metres below sea level, causing major devastation

Elevated sea temperatures that have caused widespread environmental devastation along the Ningaloo Reef have been detected as far as 300 metres below sea level in some areas. The latest warning prompted Environmental and Climate Action Minister Reece Whitby to order an “urgent briefing” from his department. The Western Australian Marine Science Institution (WAMSI) is addressing the “underwater bush fire” through a project, titled advancing predictions of WA marine heatwaves and impacts on marine ecosystems, which aims to better predict and manage extreme marine events. The heatwave project — a collaboration with WAMSI and the Australian Institute of Marine Science — will be monitoring temperatures along the coast with eight coastal buoys and Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) moorings and gliders. AIMS research scientist Dr James Gilmour said the collaborative approach was helpful to assess the full environmental impact of the event. “We are working with our networks across management, research, Traditional Owner groups and other stakeholders to gather information on the coral bleaching but it will be some time before outcomes for WA reefs are understood,” Dr Gilmour said. “Corals can recover from bleaching, or they can also die — this process can take time and there are many variables influencing the outcome.” Oceanographer from the Australian Institute of Marine Science Dr Jessica Benthuysen, one of the scientists working on the project, said extremely warm waters had brought on heat-shock to underwater ecosystems well above temperatures they would usually experience this early in the year. “The temperatures reached unprecedented levels through December and January,” Dr Benthuysen said. “In mid to late January we saw warm waters exceeding three degrees above normal along the shelf from the southern Pilbara to Ningaloo and Shark Bay. “Monitoring shows the warm temperatures are not confined to just surface waters and have reached to at least 300 metres in the past few months, which has helped the extreme event to remain for such an extended period.” Mr Whitby’s office has been contacted for an update.