[Coral-List] Thermal Stress at Puerto Rico

[Gang Liu]

Thermal Stress at Puerto Rico

With anomalously high sea surface temperatures (SSTs) developing over
most of the Caribbean Sea since late August
(http://www.osdpd.noaa.gov/PSB/EPS/SST/climohot.html),
the SST at Puerto Rico has maintained above the summertime maximum
monthly mean SST since August and around the level of bleaching
threshold since late September.
http://orbit-net.nesdis.noaa.gov/orad/sub/sst_series_puerto_cur.html.

Our satellite monitoring shows that the thermal stress is still
lingering around the bleaching threshold at Puerto Rico. Accumulated
thermal stress at Puerto Rico has now reached a level of 3.7 Degree
Heating Weeks. http://www.osdpd.noaa.gov/PSB/EPS/SST/dhw_retro.html.

Mild bleaching has been observed at some locations in the area since
September. If the area experiences a sustained thermal stress for any
longer period of time, widespread bleaching may be expected. However, at
a time this late in the season, any new bleaching event is not expected
to last long.

Any feedback you can provide is useful: both bleaching and non-bleaching
observations are welcome. Please send the feedback to Alan Strong
(Alan.E.Strong at noaa.gov) and/or Gang Liu (Gang.Liu at noaa.gov). Users are
also encouraged to use the NOAA/ReefBase collaborative online bleaching
report form to send input to our bleaching database. The form is
available at http://www.reefbase.org/input/bleachingreport/index.asp

Coral Reef Watch Project
http://orbit-net.nesdis.noaa.gov/orad/coral_bleaching_index.html

November 3, 2003



--
=========================================
 Gang Liu, Ph.D.
 Senior Research Scientist/Oceanographer
 (STG, Inc.)
 NOAA Coral Reef Watch Program
 NOAA/NESDIS/ORA E/RA31
 SSMC1, #5307
 1335 East-West Highway
 Silver Spring, MD 20910-3226

 Tel: 301-713-9386 ext 131
 Fax: 301-713-3136
 Email: Gang.Liu at noaa.gov
=========================================