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Wet weather may help 'avert' coral bleaching
Thursday January 15, 2009 - 09:51 EDT
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) says extended periods of wet weather in north Queensland would be good news for the reef.
The authority's chief executive, Russell Reicheldt, says it takes about 100 days of full sunlight for coral bleaching to begin and there has already been 40 days this summer.
He says coral is less likely to bleach if it gets some cloud protection.
"It slows down the warming of the ocean that was causing great concern during December," Mr Reicheldt said.
"If the heavy cloud cover continued it would avert the problem of coral bleaching."
Mr Reicheldt says floodwater running into the ocean from north Queensland rivers and estuaries is unlikely to cause any damage.
The GBRMPA says flood run-off can be detrimental to reef ecosystems as it often contains sediment and urban pollution.
"On the big scheme of things this will not have been a major flooding event from the reef's point of view," Mr Reicheldt said.
- ABC
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2008
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