Today we're going to talk about a sea that contains numerous islands and is located above the world's largest coral reef system. It's the Coral Sea . This sea is part of the South Pacific Ocean and covers approximately 4.800.000 square kilometers. It's of great importance for biodiversity conservation because it's home to the Great Barrier Reef, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981. You can learn more about this in our article on the state of the Great Barrier Reef.
In this article we are going to tell you about all the characteristics, biodiversity and importance of the Coral Sea.
Key features
It is a type of sea that bathes the coasts of the following countries: Australia, New Caledonia (France), Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. Its name comes from containing within it numerous islands and the entire world's largest coral reef system. It is connected to the northwest with the Arafura Sea, through the Torres Strait. It is bordered by the Solomon Sea to the north, the Tasman Sea to the south and the open Pacific Ocean to the east.
It is a sea with an average depth of 2.394 meters, although at its deepest point it reaches 9.140 meters . This sea has a curious feature: its main currents form a counter-clockwise gyroscope. This is because its deepest point generates currents that are modified by the Coriolis effect. The current system incorporates the East Australian Current. This current is responsible for transporting warmer waters from the north to the generally colder Tasman Sea. This temperature contrast is what causes the currents to be stronger. The current that carries the warmer water increases in intensity during February and is weakest in August. You can also learn more about changes in the seas in our article about why the sea changes color.
Coral Sea Climate
The Coral Sea has an average annual temperature that varies depending on latitude. For example, in the southern part, the waters are cooler, averaging around 19 degrees Celsius. In the northern part, the waters are warmer, averaging around 24 degrees Celsius. Its salinity level is around 34.5–35,5 parts per thousand (ppm), so it is not overly saline. The waters of the Coral Sea are notable for their high degree of clarity, especially in areas where coral reefs are located.
The weather in this sea is characterized by the frequent occurrence of strong tropical cyclones. These cyclones are quite common and pose a threat to coastal communities and shipping. Tropical cyclones occur most often during the summer months. To better understand how climate change is affecting the oceans, you can read about how climate change affects coral fertility.
Coral Sea Islands
As we mentioned before, this is a sea with many islands. Besides the Great Barrier Reef, there are several important island groups. Its reefs and islands are particularly rich in biodiversity, including birds and a great deal of aquatic life. This wealth of biodiversity not only benefits fishing but also makes it a popular tourist destination. Numerous islands are tourist destinations both nationally and internationally. Thanks to this, the economies of the countries surrounding the Coral Sea thrive. Let's take a look at the main islands of the Coral Sea:
They are located near the northeastern coast of Australia and are made up of about 30 islands and atolls and about 50 smaller islets. These islands are divided into different groups and are the following:
- Northwest Group, in which the most important territories are Osprey Reef, Lihou Reef and Willis Island.
- Mellish Reef, a reef located more than 300 kilometers off the Australian coast.
- Southeast Group, made up of reefs Frederick, Kenn, Saumarez, Wreck and Cato, where the highest point of these islands is located, just 6 meters above sea level.
- Southern group, formed by reefs Middleton and Elizabeth.
The Chesterfield Islands are in France and are located about 550 kilometers northwest of New Caledonia. There are 11 totally uninhabited islands whose extension is approximately 11 square kilometers. All the islets and coral reefs are quite scattered within a 120 × 70 kilometer rectangle. The islands located in this rectangle are given the following names:
- Isla Renard.
- Reefs batton.
- it fell Skeleton.
- Islands Chesterfield central.
- Islotes Avon.
- Ile Longue.
- Islets of Mooring.
- Islotes Anchorage.
- Islet Wolf.
- Reefs Bellona.
Importance of coral reefs
We know that coral reefs are like marine rainforests that come in different shapes, sizes, and colors. And it is that they are colonies of thousands of small animals that are essential for the survival of hundreds of millions of other people and that accounts for 25% of the world's marine fauna. In these reefs you will find small fish and mollusks and turtles, water birds and sharks. These ecosystems are quite fragile and their survival is at risk due to the consequences of global warming.
Coral reefs not only provide shelter and food for a percentage of the world's marine fauna, but are also a tourist attraction that generates multi-million dollar revenue. From an ecological perspective, they protect us from floods and tsunamis and contribute to food security through fishing. We should also be aware that numerous cancer drugs are extracted from coral reefs. It is also important to mention that...
We must recognize that coral reefs are the natural habitat of numerous endangered species, such as sea pens, anemones, and gorgonians, among others. The UNEP report also highlights the importance of corals to the economies of Mesoamerica and Indonesia, two regions that could each earn more than $34.000 billion by 2030 if we improve the health of their reefs.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about the Coral Sea and its characteristics.