[Coral-List] Bleaching Potentials in Gulf of Thailand, Indian Ocean

Mark Eakin Mark.Eakin at noaa.gov
Tue May 23 12:15:26 EDT 2006


Gulf of Thailand
We have been watching an area of warming develop in the Gulf of  
Thailand for the last couple of weeks. Thermal stress has accumulated  
to near bleaching levels (Degree Heating Week >=4), with DHW values  
reaching 3 and a larger, growing HotSpot with values around 1.5 degrees.

The largest HotSpot is in the central Gulf of Thailand, just  
southeast of the line from the Mu Ko Ang Thong and Mu Ko Chang  
National Parks.  People working in the region should watch out for  
high temperatures and bleaching.  A smaller HotSpot is also present  
off the southwestern tip of Vietnam.


Bay of Bengal
Thermal stress has accumulated in the northern Bay of Bengal, with  
DHW values of 2 and HotSpots approaching 2 degrees in the area just  
south of the Sundarbans.


Western Indian Ocean
Another Hotspot off Somalia has resulted in a small amount of thermal  
stress accumulation.  We will keep watching this region.


Current HotSpot and Degree Heating Week charts and data formatted for  
HDF and Google Earth can be found at:
http://coralreefwatch.noaa.gov/satellite/index.html
Time series graphics for index sites can be found at
http://coralreefwatch.noaa.gov/satellite/current/sst_series_24reefs.html
You can sign up for automated bleaching alerts at http://
coralreefwatch-satops.noaa.gov/SBA.html

Please continue reporting bleaching events (or non-events) at http://
www.reefbase.org/input/bleachingreport/index.asp


Cheers,
Mark

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

E/RA31, SSMC1, Room 5308
1335 East West Hwy
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3226
301-713-2857 x109                   Fax: 301-713-3136





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