Conservation: In the summer of 2010-2011 Western Australia experienced an unprecedented heatwave -- but not on land. Between December 2010 and April 2011, sea temperatures off the WA coast reached 3C above average, and for two weeks peaked at 5C above average -- 28C compared to the normal 23C.
The effects were drastic. Corals bleached, and the makeup of the usually temperate south west marine ecosystems shifted to more tropical -- both in fish, and algae.
Were still learning about this extraordinary event....