[Coral-List] Scientists Issue Second Coral Warning Due to HighCaribbean Sea Temperatures

Julian Sprung julian at twolittlefishies.com
Wed Aug 23 16:06:56 EDT 2006


Shouldn't it have read 3.36 degrees Fahrenheit COOLER than their annual average high--?

Sounds like its getting warm, but not abnormal for the middle of August!

Julian

> ----------
> From: 	coral-list-bounces at coral.aoml.noaa.gov on behalf of Jeremy Taylor
> Sent: 	Wednesday, August 23, 2006 11:26 AM
> To: 	caribbean-biodiversity at yahoogroups.com; carib-coral-reefs at yahoogroups.com; global-islands-biodiversity at yahoogroups.com; marine_biology_international at yahoogroups.com; Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> Subject: 	[Coral-List] Scientists Issue Second Coral Warning Due to HighCaribbean Sea Temperatures
> 
> Scientists Issue Second Coral Warning Due to High Caribbean Sea Temperatures
> 
> August 23, 2006 - By Mat Probasco, Associated Press 
> CHARLOTTE AMALIE, U.S. Virgin Islands - Scientists issued a warning Tuesday
> that temperatures in the Caribbean Sea were abnormally high and approaching
> levels that could be disastrous for coral reefs -- many of which suffered
> unprecedented die-offs last year due to hot waters. 
> 
> Sea temperatures around Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands reached
> about 83.66 degrees Fahrenheit (28.7 degrees Celsius) -- 3.36 degrees
> Fahrenheit (0.2 degrees Celsius) warmer than their annual average high,
> which normally occurs in September or October, said Al Strong, a scientist
> with the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Coral Reef
> Watch. 
> 
> NOAA alerted scuba-dive operators and underwater researchers in the U.S.
> Caribbean territories to look for coral damage and to be careful around the
> reefs, which are easily damaged by physical contact, Strong told The
> Associated Press in a telephone interview from Maryland. The agency issued a
> warning that is in effect until the waters cool off. 
> 
> Researchers fear hot summer temperatures could be disastrous for reefs
> recovering from widespread damage last year, when up to 40 percent of coral
> died in abnormally warm seas around the U.S. Virgin Islands. Scientists have
> not pinpointed what is behind the warm sea temperatures but some speculate
> global warming might be the cause. 
> 
> Full story at http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=11116
> 
> 
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