Great Barrier Reef: aerial survey reveals extent of coral bleaching

James Cook University professor Terry Hughes says he flew over 600km of reef and more than 60% was bleached

An aerial survey is revealing the worst bleaching ever seen on northern parts of the Great Barrier Reef, as the scientist leading the survey live-tweets the devastation and pleads for the world to take action on climate change.

Last week Terry Hughes, a professor at James Cook University and convener of the National Coral Bleaching Taskforce, told Guardian Australia he planned to hire a charter plane and map the bleaching to see how bad it was.