[Coral-List] Bleaching Potential in Fiji and American Samoa

[Mark Eakin]

We have one report in of bleaching now going on in Fiji.  Just to  
clarify, the greatest bleaching risk is in the region between Fiji  
and Tonga.  Please keep these reports coming in.

The larger region of high thermal stress is accumulating to the  
southeast of Samoa, east of Tonga and Niue, in a region of the  
southern Cook Islands and French Polynesia with widely scattered reef  
bearing islands.

These can be best seen with our new experimental Google Earth  
formatted data
http://coralreefwatch.noaa.gov/satellite/ge

Cheers,
Mark

On Apr 2, 2006, at 9:55 AM, Mark Eakin wrote:

> Melanesia: Bleaching Warning in Fiji-Beqa
>
> Warmer than normal waters continue throughout Melanesian waters.   
> Thermal Stress now exceeds 12 degree heating weeks in a large area  
> southeast of Samoa and American Samoa.  Workers in this area should  
> be watching for localized warming and bleaching.
>
> A smaller area of warm water is directly influencing Fiji and a  
> level 1 bleaching alert has now been issued for Fiji-Beqa.  The  
> pixel used for Fiji-Beqa has now reached 4.6, making bleaching  
> likely.  We encourage you to submit reports on the conditions of  
> corals to the NOAA-ReefBase bleaching form (below).
>
>
> According to our past data,  some bleaching is likely at DHW values  
> of 4 or above and large-scale bleaching and some mortality is  
> likely above 8. We encourage researchers in these regions to watch  
> out for signs of bleaching.
>
> Current HotSpot and Degree Heating Week charts can be found at:  
> http://coralreefwatch.noaa.gov/satellite/index.html
> Improved time series graphics for index sites can be found at  
> http://coralreefwatch.noaa.gov/satellite/current/ 
> sstdhwsba_series_24reefs.html
> You can sign up for automated bleaching alerts at http:// 
> coralreefwatch-satops.noaa.gov/SBA.html
>
> Please continue reporting bleaching events (or non-events) at  
> http://www.reefbase.org/input/bleachingreport/index.asp
>
>
> Regards,
> Mark
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 
> --------------------------
> C. Mark Eakin, Ph.D.
> Coordinator, NOAA Coral Reef Watch
> National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
> Center for Satellite Applications and Research
> Satellite Oceanography & Climate Division
> e-mail: mark.eakin at noaa.gov
> url: coralreefwatch.noaa.gov
>
> E/RA31, SSMC1, Room 5308
> 1335 East West Hwy
> Silver Spring, MD 20910-3226
> 301-713-2857 x109                   Fax: 301-713-3136
>
>

------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
------------------------
C. Mark Eakin, Ph.D.
Coordinator, NOAA Coral Reef Watch
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Center for Satellite Applications and Research
Satellite Oceanography & Climate Division
e-mail: mark.eakin at noaa.gov
url: coralreefwatch.noaa.gov

E/RA31, SSMC1, Room 5308
1335 East West Hwy
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3226
301-713-2857 x109                   Fax: 301-713-3136