[Coral-List] Bleaching - Central Pacific!!

[Alan E Strong]

Bleaching in Progress!!

KIRIBATI

We have made a comparison of this year's Degree Heating Week 
accumulations and compared them with 2002 over the Central Pacific.  In 
2002 an excessive amount of thermal stress was located on the eastern 
side of the Date Line around Howland Baker...this year that region of 
high thermal accumulations is perched right on the Equator and 
immediately west of the Date line and east of the Kingsmill 
group...close to Tarawa!

http://www.osdpd.noaa.gov/PSB/EPS/SST/data2/dhwp.11.23.2004.gif
http://www.osdpd.noaa.gov/PSB/EPS/SST/data2/dhwp.11.22.2002.gif

Let's hope it dissipates soon....

Regards,
Al
NOAA's Coral Reef Watch

-- 
**** <>< ******* <>< ******* <>< ******* <>< ******* 
Alan E. Strong  
Branch Chief, Marine Ecosystem and Climate Branch (MECB)
Coral Reef Watch Project Coordinator
Phys Scientist/Oceanographer 
  NOAA/NESDIS/ORA/SO -- E/RA3  {formerly NOAA/NESDIS/ORA/ORAD}
  NOAA Science Center -- RM 601 
  5200 Auth Road
  Camp Springs, MD 20746-4304 
        Alan.E.Strong at noaa.gov
             301-763-8102 x170   [Tues-Thurs]
             301-713-2857 x108   [Mon & Fri]
                (SSMC1 - RM 5304; Silver Spring, MD)  
              FAX: 301-763-8572
  http://coralreefwatch.noaa.gov/