Weather Bureau latest: Moreton Bay residents can expect a warm weekend and possible showers.

Weather Bureau data shows October is heating up in Moreton Bay. Scientist David Wachenfeld explains how warmer ocean temperatures impact coral populations.

October in Moreton Bay is warmer than it was 50 years ago, with more than two extra days of the month reaching at least 26 degrees. Moreton, 21 October 2020, Source: Monash University.

Moreton Bay is set for a warm weekend ahead, hitting a top of 30 degrees with a very high UV rating and possible showers.

October in Moreton Bay is warmer than it was in the 1970s, with around two more days of the month hitting at least 26 degrees.

In the 1970s, Moreton Bay was lucky to record one October day reaching 26 degrees.

Nowadays however, we typically receive around three.

This warming trend can be seen across southeast Queensland with Amberley, Brisbane Airport and Logan all recording more October days reaching 26 degrees than they used to..

Voices from your community

Warming trends like these are not just occurring on land - we're also seeing an increase in ocean temperatures.

David Wachenfeld, chief scientist at the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority explains why ocean warming can lead to coral bleaching.

"Corals are smaller than a centimetre across, but there are tens or hundreds of thousands of them in each colony," Dr Wachenfeld said.

"There are millions if not billions of colonies in the Great Barrier Reef and once you add all that up, this tiny little animal has made a structure that you can see from space."

Corals become stressed when ocean temperatures are too warm for too long.

Over the past five years Wachenfeld has observed three mass bleaching events triggered by above average ocean temperatures.

Otherwise known as 'marine heat waves,' when these events occur, coral expel the microscopic algae that live inside their tissues, leaving them 'bleached'.

"It's important to realise that bleaching is a stress response," Dr Wachenfeld said.

"If that stress isn't too great, at the end of the day the coral will recover, (but) if it's very great, the coral will die."

In the past 25 years, half of the coral found on Australia's Great Barrier Reef has disappeared.

Fast fact

Why is coral so colourful?

The microscopic algae that feed and live inside coral are what gives them their vibrant colours.

Some species also produce colourful protein pigments to protect against UV rays and adapt to different light and temperature conditions.

Healthy coral cover provides food and habitat for marine life and protects our coastlines for storms and erosion.

Dr Christa Pudmenzky is a climate scientist at the University of Southern Queensland.

This column is part of a collaboration between Monash University and News Corp to deliver hyperlocal weather and climate information.

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