File:Signs of Recovery for the Great Barrier Reef coral (Copernicus).png

English: The Great Barrier Reef, which is a protected ecosystem and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981, harbours a large variety of marine species. The reef has undergone numerous coral bleaching events since 1981, with 80% of its coral affected since 2016 due to warming ocean temperatures. Recently, scientists studying the corals’ health off the coast of Cairns in Queensland, Australia, have observed a spawning event (scientific name for the formation of new corals) in the Great Barrier Reef. The event, which lasted for about three days, has been deemed a sign of recovery for the reefs, which were severely affected by bleaching in 2020. This image, captured by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites on 13 September 2021, shows Batt Reef (left) and the eastern part of the Tongue Reef complex (right), both located in the area where the spawning event has been observed. Data from Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites support the mapping of coral reefs habitats, water quality and bathymetry (the study of ocean and lake floors) and are vital for coral reef health assessment and monitoring around the globe.