[Coral-List] Update on Caribbean Bleaching Event

[Mark Eakin]

Above normal temperatures are continuing throughout much of the  
Caribbean.  Temperatures at our index site in the US Virgin Islands  
continue at 0.9 degree C over maximum monthly mean, while those off  
the Puerto Rico site are 0.4 degrees over.

NOAA Coral Reef Watch Satellite Bleaching products (HotSpot and  
Degree Heating Week charts) for the Caribbean show that warming has  
now moved southward along the Antilles, with a strong likelihood of  
intensified bleaching.  DHW values are now exceeding 12 along much of  
that area.

These satellite data also indicate warming along the northern coast  
of South America.  We have not seen any reports of bleaching in the  
Netherland Antilles this year, but the southward movement of warm  
water has now made bleaching more likely.  DHWs are exceeding 4 in  
much of that area.

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
Quantitative reports on bleaching from this event so far include US  
shelf waters (Flower Garden Banks, Florida Keys, southeastern  
Florida), Bahamas, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, British Virgin  
Islands, Cuba, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Columbia, Panama,  
Belize, and Mexico.

Cheers,
Mark

------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
------------------------
C. Mark Eakin, Ph.D.
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

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