Scientists from the University of Wollongong (Australia) conducted a study of the islands of the Howick group, which is part of the Great Barrier Reef, and found that the area of \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bthe islands is growing, and the mangrove forests occupying them are expanding. The islands were previously thought to be endangered due to rising sea levels, reports Naked science..

Australian scientists began exploring the region in 1928, at the same time the boundaries of the islands and their sizes were recorded on the map.. In the 1970s, map details were refined using aerial photography.. The researchers also used satellite imagery in the new study..

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“What is particularly interesting is that many of the islands of the Howick group are growing. Most of the islands we explored are mostly made up of small pieces of coral.. Waves carry them to the shores of the island, laying there. These coral deposits are " Add to that the mangrove forests, some of them are advancing [on the sea] five to six meters a year,” said study lead author Sarah Hamilton..

According to the scientist, these islands were formed in a similar way.. At first, there was a sea in their place, then the waves began to carry coral fragments to the same points of shallow water. Gradually, such " These plant communities often fix the coastline, making it easier to further expand the islands in these places.. Severe storms could start the destruction of the coast, and “fixing” them with roots prevents this process..

Comparing maps from 1928 with aerial photography from 1974 and satellite images of the present day, scientists noticed a serious increase in the area of \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bthe islands, especially after the mid-70s. However, satellite imagery may not accurately capture the boundaries of such islands, since mangrove vegetation often makes it difficult to find the true coastline - especially during high tide, which floods a large part of the mangroves.. To clarify the boundaries of expansion, Hamilton's team deployed low-altitude, high-accuracy drones..

Scientists note that the Great Barrier Reef is one of the most iconic and diverse ecosystems on Earth. Despite the fact that he is considered dying or dead, it is still premature to draw such conclusions..

The Great Barrier Reef has reliably existed for the past hundreds of thousands of years, including the Mikulin interglacial period.. At its peak, about 120,000 years ago, temperatures were two degrees warmer than today's pre-industrial levels, and sea levels were six meters higher..

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Earlier, scientists from the University of Tasmania examined the Great Barrier Reef after a massive coral bleaching event in 2016 and found that the damage was not as significant as expected, but different parts of the reef reacted differently to abnormally warm water..