Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Environment
Graham Readfearn

A bid to clean up shipping industry intensified a coral bleaching event on Great Barrier Reef, study says

A green sea turtle swims over bleached corals
Great Barrier Reef corals were subjected to up to 10% more heat stress during a 2022 bleaching event because ships in the region were not emitting as much sulphur, the study says. Photograph: Jonas Gratzer/LightRocket/Getty Images

Steps to clean up the shipping industry by removing sulphur from fuels intensified a major coral bleaching event on the Great Barrier Reef by allowing more of the sun’s energy to hit the oceanic wonder, according to a new study.

Sulphur pollution can cause respiratory problems for humans and cause acid rain, but it also has a shading effect and can make clouds brighter, providing more shade to areas underneath.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.