Photo credit: www.esa.int
The Great Barrier Reef, located in the Coral Sea off Queensland’s east coast, is revealed in stunning detail through Copernicus Sentinel-2 imagery, showcasing one of the planet’s most remarkable natural landmarks.
For a closer view, users can zoom into the image or click on interactive elements for more information.
Spanning nearly 2,300 kilometers and covering over 344,000 square kilometers—equivalent to Italy in size—the Great Barrier Reef is distinguished as the largest living organism on Earth. It is notably the only biological structure visible from space without aid.
Despite its moniker, the Great Barrier Reef is not a single entity; it comprises an intricate network of approximately 3,000 reefs and 900 islands, subdivided by slender waterways. This ecosystem is recognized for its immense biodiversity, rivaling that of tropical rainforests. It is home to over 1,500 species of tropical fish, 400 coral varieties, numerous bird species, a wide range of seaweeds, and thousands of marine creatures such as sharks, barracuda, and turtles.
In acknowledgment of its ecological importance, the Great Barrier Reef was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981.
The image focuses on the southern section of the reef, near the Shire of Livingstone in Central Queensland. The mainland and its adjacent islands appear in the lower-left corner of the image, while the tan water around the coast indicates the presence of sediment.
Scattered throughout the central region of the image are numerous small coral islands, their vibrant blue lagoons contrasting sharply with the darker waters of the Coral Sea.
Cloud cover can be seen in the upper part of the image, creating a straight-lined formation that casts distinct shadows over the islands beneath.
Globally, coral reefs face ongoing threats from climate change, pollution, ocean acidification, and commercial fishing practices. A particularly critical concern is coral bleaching, a process where the algae that live symbiotically within coral die off, leading to the bleaching effect. This ecological crisis is closely linked to rising ocean temperatures, reduced salinity, and increased sunlight exposure.
Mapping these vital ecosystems proves challenging due to their remote and shallow settings, making it difficult for survey vessels and aircraft to effectively monitor them. However, tools such as Earth-observing satellites like Copernicus Sentinel-2 provide a unique perspective, allowing for comprehensive monitoring of the health and status of reefs worldwide.
Source
www.esa.int