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Kamla et al.,
<p>I have noticed from our satellite information that high SSTs appeared
in the vicinity of Mauritius early in February 2001:
<br> <A HREF="http://psbsgi1.nesdis.noaa.gov:8080/PSB/EPS/SST/climohot.html">http://psbsgi1.nesdis.noaa.gov:8080/PSB/EPS/SST/climohot.html</A>
<br>or as an animation:
<br> <A HREF="http://orbit-net.nesdis.noaa.gov/orad/sub/sst_hle_2m.html">http://orbit-net.nesdis.noaa.gov/orad/sub/sst_hle_2m.html</A>
<p>...however no HotSpots have yet been revealed.
<br>
<p>We informed coral-list readers back in October 2000 (17th):
<p><A HREF="http://psbsgi1.nesdis.noaa.gov:8080/PSB/EPS/SST/data/hotals_comments.10.17.2000">http://psbsgi1.nesdis.noaa.gov:8080/PSB/EPS/SST/data/hotals_comments.10.17.2000</A>
<p>that our NOAA satellite SSTs had begun to provide "observations" that
went into our products/charts that are -0.5 to -1 deg C too LOW.
This was due to an old satellite and some instrumentation difficulties.
Our new satellite (NOAA-16) has just recently come on line and has been
approved for use with these products. With these new, and corrected,
SSTs our charts should soon adapt to showing HotSpots, etc. correctly as
well.
<p>The bottom line here is that SSTs and Bleaching HotSpot Anomalies shown
have not always been capturing/highlighting completely regions of believed
coral reef bleaching over the past 6-7 months. The fact that this
region in the Indian Ocean showed evidence of SSTs close [pink = within
0.5 deg C] to what is beleived necessary for a potential bleaching event
in February means SSTs were probably, in fact, high enough for inducing
some bleaching. Level for bleaching at Mauritius is approximately
28C.
<p>...does anyone have an observed SST for Mauritius in February?
<p>Thanks,
<br>Al
<p>Kamla Ruby wrote:
<blockquote TYPE=CITE><style></style>
<font size=-1>Dear coral listers</font><font size=-1>During
routine surveys conducted in the lagoon on the eastern coast of Mauritius,
Indian Ocean, this week i noticed that some large colonies of Acropora
cytherea have lost their tissues, some totally and some partially
There are others which have not been affected at all (reminds me of the
1998 coral bleaching episode). I have not noticed any disease
line of active tissue necrosis.This plague must have progressed very fast
as last week i w as at the same site but the corals did not show any sign
of infestation. Within a week, some of the colonies have died and they
are covered with green filmentous algae though which one can still see
the white coral skeleton. Corals of other species, such as branching
Acropora, Foliose montipora etc , although occurring side by side have
not been affected at all.</font><font size=-1> Iam not sure whether
the corals have been affected by white band disease I or II, tissue bleaching,
shut down reaction or plague.Is there anyway we can identify the disease
from field observations? Also any reason why only colonies of A.cytherea
are being affected?</font><font size=-1>Thanks a lot</font><font size=-1>Cheers</font><font size=-1>Ruby</font> <font size=-1>Ruby
Moothien Pillay</font><font size=-1>Albion Fisheries Research Centre</font><font size=-1>Albion,
Petite Riviere</font><font size=-1>Mauritius</font><font size=-1>Phone:
+2304100 Fax: +2384131</font><font size=-1>Email:
<a href="mailto:Kamlaruby@intnet.mu">Kamlaruby@intnet.mu</a></font></blockquote>
<p>--
<br>**** <>< ******* <>< ******* <>< ******* <><
*******
<br>Alan E. Strong
<br>Phys Scientist/Oceanographer
<br> NOAA/NESDIS/ORA/ORAD -- E/RA3
<br> NOAA Science Center -- RM 711W
<br> 5200 Auth Road
<br> Camp Springs, MD 20746-4304
<br> Alan.E.Strong@noaa.gov
<br>
301-763-8102 x170
<br> FAX: 301-763-8108
<br> <A HREF="http://orbit-net.nesdis.noaa.gov/orad">http://orbit-net.nesdis.noaa.gov/orad</A>
<br>
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