Ill winds : calm weather puts Great Barrier Reef at risk

NewsNationalSaveShareNewsNationalNews HomeHome/News/NationalIll winds: calm weather puts Great Barrier Reef at riskBy Jennifer Dudley-NicholsonUpdated October 19 2026 - 3:38pm, first published 3:34pmBy Jennifer Dudley-NicholsonUpdated October 19 2026 - 3:38pm, first published 3:34pmSaveShareGreat Barrier Reef coral is facing increased risk as a lack of wind pushes up ocean temperatures . Photo: AP PHOTOThe Great Barrier Reef could face a higher risk of coral bleaching, Australian researchers warn, due to weather patterns that intensify ocean heating during El Nino conditions. But the patterns involve a lack of wind rather than extreme heat alone, and scientists say studying atmospheric conditions could help them predict future mass bleaching events. Researchers from Monash University and the University of Melbourne revealed the findings on Monday in a scientific paper that examined almost three decades of weather data.