Third Global Coral Bleaching Event Reaches Great Barrier Reef

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When coral gets too hot, it expels its colorful algae and turns white. We could be seeing this occur on an unprecedented scale. Ethan Daniels/Shutterstock

Worldwide record-breaking temperatures are having an impact on coral reefs. Reports are now coming in of widespread bleaching on the northernmost section of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), amongst the most pristine coral regions on the planet. A large survey has been launched to determine the scale of the problem, although researchers say we may not know the severity for some time.