Cook Island SST's during 1998

[Jamie Oliver]

Hi Darrin

ReefBase has a comprehensive database on coral bleaching (including all
coral-list and NOAA records), which includes some records for the Cook
Islands, and 2 records for Rarotonga (in1999, 2000) but nothing for 1998.
Here is the link to Cook Island records on ReefBase:
http://www.reefbase.org/threats/thr_bleaching.asp?country=COK&display=bleach
ing

If you find any bleaching reports for 1998, I would greatly appreciate it if
you could send me the info so I can put it on ReefBase.

Regards

Jamie

===============================
Jamie Oliver
Senior Scientist (Coral Reef Projects)
ICLARM - The World Fish Center
PO Box 500, Penang 10670

Phone: (604) 626 1606
Fax: (604) 626 5530

email:  J.Oliver at cgiar.org

visit ReefBase on:  www.reefbase.org
===============================

 -----Original Message-----
From:   Darrin Drumm [mailto:druda019 at student.otago.ac.nz]
Sent:   Tuesday, 20 August 2002 11:07 AM
To:     coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
Subject:        Cook Island SST's during 1998

I am investigating sea cucumber gametogenic development for Rarotonga,
Cook Islands (LAT=21 12S, LONG=159 46W)with respect to environmental
triggers.  The montly mean sea temperature data (available through
Flinders University Tidal Facility) during 1998 shows a curious sudden
increase from 23.9C in October 1998 to 27.5 C in November 1998.   I am
aware that there was a massive global coral bleaching event in 1998 that
coincided with a strong El Nino/La Nina event.  I presume that the SST
data I have reflects this event.  I have found some anecdotal reports on
bleaching for Fiji and Samoa on the NOAA website, but I have been having
difficulty finding information regarding the El Nino for Rarotonga.  If
anybody could direct me to information on the 1998 El Nino and its
influence in the Cook Islands I would be very appreciative.  Thanks

Regards,
Darrin Drumm

Darrin Drumm
PhD Candidate
Department of Marine Science
University of Otago
P.O. Box 56
Dunedin, New Zealand
ph:  64 3 479-8306
fax: 64 3 479-8336

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