Record heat over Great Barrier Reef raises fears of second summer of coral bleaching

Amid record November heat over the Great Barrier Reef an expert on coral bleaching says he has never seen heat stress accumulating this early, but a ‘well timed cyclone’ in December could reduce the risk. Photograph: Sam McNeil/AP

Ocean temperatures over parts of the Great Barrier Reef have reached record levels this month, sparking fears of a second summer in a row of mass coral bleaching.

Data from the US government’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) shows sea surface temperatures over the northern parts of the reef have been the highest for any November on a record going back to 1985.