⁠Recent data and coral surveys from CSIRO have recorded that a natural phenomenon is occurring in continental drop-off zones where the East Australian Current raises cold water closer to the surface causing the “localised” parts of the reef to be temporarily cooler than other parts. This is important because recent coral bleaching events have impacted over 90% of coral species, and any chance for the coral to adapt to the rising temperature could be vital for the survival of the Great Barrier Reef and its inhabitants.

Upwelling occurs when cooler water rises from the deepest depths of the sea during a strong tidal current. This is carried and flows through the reefs providing a cool relief. some currents can last up to a week while others a few days.

CSIRO’S ocean costal research team for Australia predict that the cold-water current will continue until at least 2080, providing a vital relief for the reef.

These pockets of cooler water allow the reef to flourish and be rich in coral and marine life. As such, these pockets have been discovered in the Swains and Pompey’s reef complex, 135 km offshore from Mackay. These reefs lie right on the continental drop off where the East Australian Current raises cold water over the continental barrier.

CSIRO’S coastal research team says, “We looked for unusually cool water in satellite temperature maps and ocean models. Then we ran these models forward in time, to see if these life-sustaining cool flows would persist in the 2050s under a high emissions scenario, and again in the 2080s.”

As the cooler currents provide a safe refuge for endangered species and a place for coral to grow, protecting these refuges offers the best chance to preserve some of the reef’s rich array of species and potentially allow corals to adapt to new heat and repopulate the worser affected reef areas.

If these pockets are kept protected from the increasing risks of overfishing and pollution, the biodiversity of the coral reefs and the ever-changing ocean currents could still be sustained.

While CSIRO’S evidence does not provide an answer or a quick solution, there is still a glimmer of hope for our reefs. Conservation, protection, and adaptation must become the key focus for the future of our reefs and water ways. [I’d add one more sentence to help with the rhythm of this paragraph / conclusion. See what other analysis you can add here.]