CORRECTION -- Bleaching expanding in Caribbean

[Precht,Bill]

Just returned from the Bahamas after a week long reef monitoring trip.

Corals of the central Bahamas show extensive bleaching.  Over 60% of all
head corals are bleached to a depth of 20 meters around New Providence
Island.  Extensive bleaching (around 80%) between 15-20 meters depth.
Montastrea cavernosa not bleached at all at any site or at any depth.
Acropora palmata bleached on the upper sides of only the shallow most
branches at Goulding Cay and Andros Island.  Local dive operators
consider this to be most extensive bleaching event known to date.

Note surface water temps cooled by 2 degrees C in approximately 48 hours
after the passage of large, long-period swell generated by Hurricane
Bonnie. 

William F. Precht
Natural Resources Manager
LAW Engineering & Environmental Services, Inc.
5845 NW 158th Street
Miami Lakes, FL  33014
ph (305) 826-5588
fax (305) 826-1799

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	astrong at nesdis.noaa.gov [SMTP:astrong at nesdis.noaa.gov]
> Sent:	Tuesday, September 01, 1998 1:28 PM
> To:	coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> Cc:	apaterson at ocean.nos.noaa.gov; bbest at usaid.gov;
> cbarrientos at nesdis.noaa.gov; jdaguanno at nesdis.noaa.gov;
> jpurdom at nesdis.noaa.gov; J.McManus at CGNET.COM;
> ldantzler at nesdis.noaa.gov; eakin at ogp.noaa.gov;
> Michael.Crosby at noaa.gov; mvanwoert at nesdis.noaa.gov; pthomas at state.gov;
> rhayes at fac.howard.edu; Roger.B.Griffis at noaa.gov; goreau at bestweb.net;
> Tom.Hourigan at noaa.gov
> Subject:	CORRECTION -- Bleaching expanding in Caribbean
> 
> ...ADD Jamaica to the list of bleaching potential...
> 
> 
> HotSpot Notes -- September 1, 1998
> 
> NOAA satellite data show "HotSpots" and related coral reef 
> bleaching has expanded considerably southward into the 
> Caribbean [excessive ocean surface temperatures appear to be 
> fueling Hurricane Danielle as it moves to the NW of Bermuda, 
> away from the upwelled track left by Hurricane Bonnie:
> http://psbsgi1.nesdis.noaa.gov:8080/PSB/EPS/SST/data/anomnight.9.1.199
> 8.gif]:
> 
>     	Florida Keys*
> 	Belize
> 	Cozumel
> 	Jamaica+
> 	Honduras
> 	Panama
>      	Grand Cayman+*
>      	Virgin Islands-
>      	Lesser Antilles - southern+
>      	Dutch Antilles-*
> 
>     Also:
> 	Bermuda+
>      	Bahamas-*
> 	Baja - Cabo San Lucas     
> 
> Over the Eastern Hemisphere:
> 
>      	Red Sea [central & south]
>      	Philippines [all except SW areas]**
>      	Okinawa area & S. Japan*
> 	Gulf of Oman
> 	Arabian Sea*
> 
> Verifications appreciated... 
> [+ = increasing; - = decreasing; * = verified]
> 
> AES
> 
> **** <>< ******* <>< ******* <>< ******* <>< ******* <>< ******* <><
> *****
> Alan E. Strong
>   Phys Scientist/Oceanographer                    Adj Assoc Res
> Professor
>   NOAA/NESDIS/ORA/ORAD -- E/RA3                    US Naval Academy
>   NOAA Science Center -- RM 711W                    Oceanography
> Department
>   5200 Auth Road                                        Annapolis, MD
> 21402
>   Camp Springs, MD 20746-4304                            410-293-6550
>         Alan.E.Strong at noaa.gov
>   301-763-8102 x170    FAX: 301-763-8108
>           http://manati.wwb.noaa.gov/orad