Final answer:
The statement that there has been an increase in sea surface temperature in the Great Barrier Reef from 1965 – 2010 is true. Data indicates a global rise in temperatures affecting marine ecosystems, including increased coral bleaching in coral reefs.
Step-by-step explanation:
There has been an increase in sea surface temperature in the Great Barrier Reef from 1965 – 2010. This assertion is true. Research indicates that coral reefs around the globe are threatened by rising temperatures and increased greenhouse gas emissions, leading to shifts in marine populations and more frequent coral bleaching events.
The increase in sea surface temperature is a consequence of global warming, which has been shown by data from organizations such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to have raised Earth's surface temperatures by more than one degree in the past 100 years.
Climate change is causing weather to become more extreme, oceans to become more acidic, and hurricanes to increase in frequency and intensity, all of which affect marine life, including coral reefs.
A conservative scientific projection of a 1°C-2°C rise in global temperatures in the coming decades can have a significant impact on coral reefs, pushing many beyond the point of recovery. Hence, the Great Barrier Reef faces serious environmental challenges due to rapidly and inexorably increasing sea temperatures.