Grand Final at the Gabba: Locals can expect a humid weekend and possible thunderstorms.

Weekend forecast: What can locals expect this Grand Final weekend? Plus, scientist David Wachenfeld discusses coral health on the Great Barrier Reef.

October in north Brisbane is warmer than it was 50 years ago, with around six extra days of the month reaching at least 26 degrees. North Lakes, 21 October 2020, Source: Monash University.

North Brisbane is set for a warm, muggy weekend ahead, with temperatures in the high 20s, scattered showers and possible thunderstorms.

October in north Brisbane is warmer than it was in the 1970s, with around six extra days of the month hitting at least 26 degrees.

50 years ago, October typically had six days reaching 26 degrees

Nowadays however, it's more like 12 days in the month.

This warming trend can be seen across southeast Queensland with Amberley, Cape Moreton and Logan all recording more October days reaching this threshold 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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