New 1-5 Scale Unveiled to Report Damage to Great Barrier Reef

If the reef experiences temperatures 16 degrees or more above the long-term average weekly temperature, it will be deemed a category 5.

The Great Barrier Reef off the east coast of Australia, on March 7, 2022. Glenn Nicholls/AFP via Getty Images

Damage to the Great Barrier Reef will in future, be reported on a new scale ranging from one to five, similar to how tropical cyclone strength is reported, under a new framework announced by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority on Feb. 20.

A ranking of five would indicate a widespread bleaching event on the reef.