Cool Water Refuges May Help Parts of Great Barrier Reef Persist Through 2080s

New research identifies two regions of the reef buffered by natural upwelling, offering hope for coral survival under climate change.

Scientists have identified two areas of the Great Barrier Reef, in the Eastern Torres Strait and near the Whitsundays, that remain cooler due to natural upwelling of deep water.
These regions, known as climate refugia, are projected to stay approximately 1°C cooler than neighboring reefs even under high greenhouse gas emissions scenarios through 2080.
The cooling effect is driven by strong tidal currents and dense reef formations, which enhance mixing of cooler deep water with warm surface water.
Researchers recommend prioritizing these refuges for protection from human pressures like fishing and shipping, as well as for coral restoration efforts.
While these refuges offer hope, experts emphasize the need for global climate action to reduce warming and safeguard the reef’s long-term survival.