The 'underwater bushfire' cooking Australia's reefs

The article discusses the alarming state of Australia's coral reefs, which are being devastated by a phenomenon known as "underwater bushfires." Divers at one of the country's renowned reef systems have described their experience as "swimming on a corpse," highlighting the severe degradation of the marine ecosystem. The article explains that these "underwater bushfires" are caused by prolonged heatwaves, which are leading to the widespread bleaching and death of coral. This process is known as coral bleaching, where the coral expels the symbiotic algae that provide it with essential nutrients, causing the coral to turn white and ultimately die. The article emphasizes the dire consequences of this environmental crisis, as the coral reefs are a vital component of the marine ecosystem, providing habitat and resources for a vast array of marine life. The loss of these reefs not only impacts the local ecosystem but also has significant implications for the overall health of the world's oceans and the communities that depend on them.