Coral Bleaching at Palolo Deep (fwd)

[Coral Health and Monitoring Program]

Forwarded message:

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: 9 Mar 1998 17:27:54 -0500
From: "Daschbach, N." <ndaschbach at ocean.nos.noaa.gov>
Subject: RE: Coral Bleaching at Palolo Deep

We've also seen the same phenomenon here in American Samoa.  We had a week
of very low tides at midday, with long exposure to the air/sun, and air
temps have been in the mid 90s F, which is very hot for Samoa (we have had
record highs in the 95-96¡range).  Water temps are in the 30¡C range and
that increase (from the high 20s) has happened fairly recently.

Try the NOAA El Nino site for SSTs.

Nancy Daschbach
Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary
________________________________________________________


Please respond to Mike King (mking at samoa.net) or to coral-list:

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 5 Mar 1998 13:20:18 -1100
From: Mike King <mking at samoa.net>
Subject: Coral Bleaching

A survey at Palolo Deep (a National Marine Park near Apia, Western Samoa)
on 28 February revealed severe coral bleaching. Between 60 to 70% of all
staghorn Acopora on the reef top was bleached. This has occurred with
amazing rapidity (over a period of 5-6 days). In deeper water, all seemed
well.

Do you have any information on the El Nino driven plug of warm water
extending over the Pacific?

Best wishes,  Mike King.