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Alan:
<p>Just returned from underwater surveys of the reefs surrounding Farallon
de Medinilla (FDM) target island (16 01'N, 146 04'E) in the Northern Mariana
Islands, with other biologists and Navy EOD divers. Possible indications
of a bleaching event beginning. East side FDM corals (Pocillopora meandrina
and P. eydouxi) bleaching on tops of colonies in relatively shallow, inshore
zone (2m. to 10m. depth). Water temp recorded on scuba console gauge
at 85 to 87 F.
<p>Aloha, John
<p>John Naughton
<br>NMFS, Honolulu
<br>
<p>Alan E Strong wrote:
<blockquote TYPE=CITE>Bleaching news from Okinawa...
<p>"....the water is around 30.0 to 30.5 oC at the moment. Some corals,
that is what's left on the reefs, are showing signs of heat stress (for
example the tops of many Porites lobata are paling) others are OK....
<br>Note, that it is <font color="#FF0000">warmer now than the same period
in 1998,</font> even down to 60m. What's also interesting is that the expected
negative low tides are 30 cm higher than expected..." [Rob van Woesik]
<p>AES
<br>--
<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> </blockquote>
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