[Coral-List] Potential for bleaching on the southwestern Pacific reefs

[Mark Eakin]

Ocean temperatures have been warming to the east and north of Australia.

A region of warming is expanding along the southern GBR, as evidenced  
by HotSpot values over 1 degree C.  Degree Heating Week values have  
started to accumulate, but have not reached significant levels.   
These should be monitored for further development.

However, in the Timor Sea, Degree Heating Week values have reached as  
high as 6 with current HotSpot values near 1.5.  Fortunately, this  
region of warming is currently contracting.

New warming has begun around the Solomon Islands, with DHWs already  
around 5 in some spots, and HotSpots around 1.5.  This region is  
expanding.

According to our past data,  some bleaching is likely at DHW values  
of 4 or above.

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

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