Experts have warned that the entire Great Barrier Reef is at risk of bleaching and death over the next four months.
The US National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration forecast that there is a 60 percent chance that the entire reef will be subject to coral bleaching.
While there is a 90 percent chance of a lesser level coral bleaching.
Marine biologist Ove Hoegh-Guldberg told the Guardian: “To really have the full picture we’re going to have to wait for those projections that cover the main part of bleaching season.
"Given sea temperatures usually increase as we get towards March, this is probably conservative.”
It comes after 50 percent of shallow-water coral was killed in 2016 and 2017 by back to back bleaching events.
Bleaching occurs when water is too warm causing corals to expel the algae living in their tissues, causing the coral to turn white.
Although corals can survive a bleaching event, they are more vulnerable to destruction.
Experts say that while it takes at least a decade for even the fastest growing corals to fully recover, repeated bleaching can cause irreversible damage.
The past four bleaching events have occurred in 1998, 2009, 2016 and 2017.
Should another bleaching event occur in 2019, it is thought that the reef would struggle to recover.
Professor Hoegh-Guldberg said that frequent bleachings make it less easy for the reef to recover.
“Killing coral has really reduced the ability of the reef to produce offspring. The idea that these large remaining stocks of coral also get whacked at the same time as we’re losing the ability for the reef to regenerate….it’s really serious.”
In April, the Australian government pledged 500 million Australian dollars to help preserve the reef.
The funds will enable the government to partner with the Great Barrier Reef Foundation to monitor and improve the long-term health of the reef, according to CNN.
