SSTs on the Rise - W. Australia

[Alan E. Strong]

BLEACHING NOTE:  11 FEB 00

Bleaching off W. Australia? -- HotSpots intensify

SSTs off Western Australia continue to move dramatically upward off
western coastline of Australia and have moved into the vicinity of Ningaloo:
    http://psbsgi1.nesdis.noaa.gov:8080/PSB/EPS/SST/data/hotspotesc.gif

The overview of Tropical Bleaching HotSpots can be viewed at:
    http://psbsgi1.nesdis.noaa.gov:8080/PSB/EPS/SST/climohot.html

This is the time (late summer) when temperature levels are the highest of the
year.
Now it is seen that SSTs have exceed the normal maximum summertime values
by more than 1 degC -- hence "HotSpots" are depicted and bleaching is likely to
be occurring under these warm surface conditions.

Our new experimental charts that attempt to accumulate thermal stress over coral
reefs can be found at:
    http://psbsgi1.nesdis.noaa.gov:8080/PSB/EPS/icg/dhw/dhw_new.html

Scientists/reef experts are encouraged to fill out our feedback forms provided at
this NOAA WebSite to help us with this development and monitoring work

Another region of SST increase and associated HotSpots, we are watching,
continues around much of Papua New Guinea.

A. E. Strong.

**** <>< ******* <>< ******* <>< ******* <>< ******* <>< ******* <>< *****
Alan E. Strong
  Phys Scientist/Oceanographer
  NOAA/NESDIS/ORA/ORAD -- E/RA3
  NOAA Science Center -- RM 711W
  5200 Auth Road
  Camp Springs, MD 20746-4304
        Alan.E.Strong at noaa.gov
                 301-763-8102 x170    FAX: 301-763-8108
                         http://manati.wwb.noaa.gov/orad

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