What is the fire danger of the great barrier reef?

Answer 1

The Great Barrier Reef, like any natural habitat, faces numerous threats, largely as a result of human impact. Although it does not have an official listing of endangered, it is shrinking, and it is unknown by how much, or whether this is permanent. Climate scientists who subscribe to the theory of anthropogenic global warming (i.e. caused by man's activities) predict that the Great Barrier Reef may lose up to 95% of its coral by the middle of the current century. Although the coastline parallel to the Great Barrier Reef has been settled by Europeans for less than 200 years, these scientists believe that the Reef has been shrinking by 20% every 100 years.

Climate scientists who subscribe to the theory that global warming is cyclical perhaps have a less drastic view, as they believe that the coral will regenerate, as it has apparently done so in the past. There is evidence that the coral goes down much deeper than first thought, and this is an important factor in its regeneration. It is a very emotive topic.

Pollution and chemical runoff pose a very real threat to the reef. The water quality of the reef is affected by sediment and nutrients, and 80% of this is caused by cattle grazing on the land adjacent to the reef. Mud and chemical runoff tend to limit the sunlight that reaches the coral, causing it to die off, and they increase the macro-algae, which is a weed.

Tourism is a threat to the reef, as tourist boats damage the delicate framework of the reef; fishing and pollution left behind by visitors also is a threat.

A natural threat to the Great Barrier Reef is the Crown of Thorns starfish. Outbreaks of this starfish are a constant threat to the animals of the Great Barrier Reef, though in small numbers it poses no threat.

There are about 40 species which live in and around the Great Barrier Reef which are listed as endangered, mostly due to human impact.

Answer 2

• Pollution, in the form of runoff of farm chemicals. The Great Barrier Reef lies off the coast of a rich farming region.
• Human interference. Scuba diving and snorkelling is usually harmless, but people are tempted to break off the coral as a souvenir.
• Littering from plastic bait bags from fishermen, fishing line, general rubbish dropped overboard, particularly on tour boats. Tourism causes major ecologuical damage.
• Occasionally a large ship may run aground, damaging the coral and even leeching oil.
• General global warming caused by industry, pollution, etc is contributing to large amounts of coral bleaching.

Answer 3

The Great Barrier Reef, in itself, is not dangerous. It poses considerable danger to ships, which can run aground and be badly damaged on the reef. As with all marine environments, there are some dangerous creatures on the reef. Nonetheless, it is a very safe place to go swimming and snorkelling, as long as sensible precautions are taken.

The reef currently faces greater threat from people and the effects of global warming than we face from the reef.

Answer 4

Many things can, and do, harm the Great Barrier Reef.

One of the major harms comes from human impact. Although the Great Barrier Reef does not have an official listing of endangered, it is shrinking, and it is unknown by how much, or whether this is permanent. Climate scientists who subscribe to the theory of anthropogenic global warming (i.e. caused by man's activities) predict that the Great Barrier Reef may lose up to 95% of its coral by the middle of the current century. Although the coastline parallel to the Great Barrier Reef has been settled by Europeans for less than 200 years, these scientists believe that the Reef has been shrinking by 20% every 100 years.

Climate scientists who subscribe to the theory that global warming is cyclical perhaps have a less drastic view, as there is plenty of evidence to show that the coral will regenerate, as it has done so in the past. There is evidence that the coral goes down much deeper than first thought, and this is an important factor in its regeneration. It is a very emotive topic.

Pollution and chemical runoff cause harm to the reef. The water quality of the reef is affected by sediment and nutrients, and 80% of this is caused by cattle grazing on the land adjacent to the reef. Mud and chemical runoff tend to limit the sunlight that reaches the coral, causing it to die off, and they increase the macro-algae, which is a weed.

Tourism can harm the reef, as tourist boats damage the delicate framework of the reef; fishing and pollution left behind by visitors also is a threat.

A natural threat to the Great Barrier Reef is the Crown of Thorns starfish. Outbreaks of this starfish are a constant threat to the animals of the Great Barrier Reef, though in small numbers it poses no threat.

Answer 5

Some of the dangers are mostly animals like the tiger fish, sea snakes, the blue ringed octopus, baracuta, stingray, theres a certain snail that is also deadly, sharks and more.</

Answer 6

A reef is in the ocean. The ocean is wet and unless it has oil or something on it there is no fire danger.

Answer 7

Storms and pollution are 2 of them :))