[Coral-List] Coral Bleaching in the Florida Keys

Jim Hendee Jim.Hendee at noaa.gov
Thu Aug 18 14:27:28 EDT 2005


Greetings,

   We have been receiving coral bleaching alerts from our CREWS (Coral 
Reef Early Warning System) stations in the Florida Keys, and there have 
been warnings from the NESDIS HotSpots products.  Today extensive coral 
bleaching was observed by Captain Chris Humphrey of the Florida 
Institute of Oceanography at the Fowey Rocks SEAKEYS station, in 
Biscayne Bay (near Miami).  He also observed extensive bleaching at the 
Long Key site on the Florida Bay side of the Keys.  Some bleaching was 
also observed at Sombrero Key (e.g., see CREWS report, below)about a 
week ago, with ~25% of hard corals and ~75% of fire corals exhibiting 
bleaching.  We have been receiving CREWS bleaching alerts also from Sand 
Key, in the lower Florida Keys, but we have no observations from there 
yet.  The conditions in the Keys now (and for the last couple of weeks) 
are high 30s sea temperature, low winds, and bright sunny days.

   Unfortunately, the satellite transmitter for Fowey Rocks was fixed 
only today, so we do not have data for the last week or so.  However, 
here is the most recent CREWS report from the SEAKEYS station:

~~~~ Coral Bleaching Alert for Fowey Rocks 08/18/2005 ~~~~

Rule-TW7 (6)
Conditions possibly favorable for bleaching afternoon on 08/18/2005, 
because  FIO sea temperature was very high (about 31.5), and wind speed 
was very low (about 6.4) during afternoon  (but PAR not measured).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

   To see the SEAKEYS raw data reports, go to 
http://www.coral.noaa.gov/seakeys/real_data.shtml

   That is all for now.

   Yours,
   Jim


~~~~ Coral Bleaching Alert for Sombrero Reef 08/18/2005 ~~~~


Rule-T8 (3)
Conditions possibly favorable for bleaching evening on 08/18/2005, 
because  FIO sea temperature was very high (about 31.0).

Rule-T5 (6)
Conditions possibly favorable for bleaching afternoon on 08/17/2005, 
because  FIO sea temperature was very high (about 31.5).

Rule-T8 (3)
Conditions possibly favorable for bleaching mid-day on 08/17/2005, 
because  FIO sea temperature was very high (about 31.0).

Rule-T5 (6)
Conditions possibly favorable for bleaching afternoon on 08/16/2005, 
because  FIO sea temperature was very high (about 31.3).

Rule-T8 (3)
Conditions possibly favorable for bleaching evening on 08/14/2005, 
because  FIO sea temperature was very high (about 31.1).

Rule-T8 (3)
Conditions possibly favorable for bleaching midnight on 08/14/2005, 
because  FIO sea temperature was very high (about 31.1).

Rule-TW5 (12)
Conditions possibly favorable for bleaching afternoon on 08/13/2005, 
because  FIO sea temperature was very high (about 31.3),  and wind speed 
was very low (about 4.0) during afternoon  (but PAR not measured).

Rule-TW7 (6)
Conditions possibly favorable for bleaching afternoon on 08/13/2005, 
because  FIO sea temperature was very high (about 31.1),  and wind speed 
was very low (about 5.3) during afternoon  (but PAR not measured).

Rule-TW7 (6)
Conditions possibly favorable for bleaching afternoon on 08/12/2005, 
because  FIO sea temperature was very high (about 31.1),  and wind speed 
was very low (about 6.0) during afternoon  (but PAR not measured).

Rule-T5 (6)
Conditions possibly favorable for bleaching afternoon on 08/12/2005, 
because  FIO sea temperature was very high (about 31.3).

*** Mean sea temperature for all temperatures
   in data report dated 08/18/2005 is 30.96

~~~~~~~
H sea temp points:                                               30
H sea temp, L wind points:                                       24

Number of rules triggered:                                       10




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