[Coral-List] Coral Bleaching Alert for Great Barrier Reef, Australia

[Gang Liu]

Great Barrier Reef, Australia Coral Bleaching Alert

Anomalously high sea surface temperatures (SSTs) are quickly developing
over the past few weeks over most of the Coral Sea and portions of the
Great Barrier Reef.
http://www.osdpd.noaa.gov/PSB/EPS/SST/data/hotspote.1.27.2004.gif
http://www.osdpd.noaa.gov/PSB/EPS/SST/climohot.html

SSTs from two of our selected satellite monitoring sites, Davies Reef
and Heron Island, have been edging above the summertime maximum monthly
mean SST since early this month.
http://www.osdpd.noaa.gov/PSB/EPS/CB_indices/coral_bleaching_indices.html

http://orbit-net.nesdis.noaa.gov/orad/sub/sst_series_daviesreef_cur.html

http://orbit-net.nesdis.noaa.gov/orad/sub/sst_series_heron_cur.html

Coral bleaching DHWs have already been accumulating through out the
Coral Sea and part of the GBR.
http://www.osdpd.noaa.gov/PSB/EPS/SST/data2/dhwp.1.27.2004.gif

Some minor bleaching has been observed at various locations in the GBR
region. The tides in the GBR are yet to relax completely and the weather
forecasts are calling for continued slack winds in the region.  Although
it is cloudy near the coast, high solar radiation persists over the
area.  These environmental conditions are favorable for the development
of intensive thermal stress, foretelling of the potential for severe
coral bleaching events in the GBR within the next few weeks.

For more information please visit Coral Reef Watch's Website:
http://orbit-net.nesdis.noaa.gov/orad/coral_bleaching_index.html

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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

Jan 28, 2004
NOAA Coral Reef Watch Program




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=========================================
 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
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