Kate Boyer - How much longer will the Great Barrier Reef be around?

The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is dying. The CO2 levels emitted into the air are causing water temperatures to increase which results in the bleaching of reefs. In 2016 alone, the temperature of the water has gone up 1° Celsius. Because of the steady climate change and rise in water temperature, scientists fear that the coral will not be able to recover. After the disappearance of zooxanthellae, a species of algae, the Great Barrier Reef has lost it's main way of producing food. This strand of algae experiences photosynthesis to undergo this process. 

This is really important to me because I'm a child of the sea and saw coral in the Caribbean Sea that had lost its color.  The Great Barrier Reef has been around for over 500,000 years and has been a source of food for not only other animals but for humans as well, providing lots of fish. Therefore the deterioration of the reef will be a big chapter in our worlds history.  Coral all around the world has been dying for hundreds of years. With every bleached branch of the beautiful sea life, no matter how famous, causes great distress among the world population. 

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-38127320