February 28, 2020
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The Great Barrier Reef is still at risk of a widespread outbreak of coral bleaching despite a cyclone to the far west helping to temporarily cool stressed corals, according to US and Australian science agencies. Clearer skies, weak tides and above-average ocean temperatures are combining to create stressful conditions for corals along much of the world’s largest reef system. Concerns are rising that southern parts of the reef that escaped major bleaching in 2016 and 2017 may be hit in the coming weeks unless weather conditions change.
