[Coral-List] Coral Reef Watch expands Virtual Stations and bleaching alert system

[Mark Eakin]

NOAA's Coral Reef Watch is pleased to announce that its expansion of  
the experimental Virtual Station system is complete, and 190 coral  
reef sites are now available.  Virtual Stations are based on  
satellite measurements of the thermal stress that can lead to coral  
bleaching, highlighting pixels that are close to specific reefs.   
Users can access time series graphs and data, view regional  
temperature imagery, and sign up for free alert e-mails that warn  
when conditions are right for coral bleaching.

The operational system began in 2005, with 24 reefs around the  
world.  The new experimental sites are open for comment and further  
discussion from partners around the world to optimize placement and  
the satellite data will be validated against in situ data where  
available.

The new experimental sites cover coral reefs in the Florida Keys,  
Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, Indian Ocean, Coral Triangle, Australia’s  
Great Barrier Reef, Hawaii, and the Pacific Ocean.  Products are  
available from our experimental products webpage:
http://coralreefwatch.noaa.gov/satellite/current/ 
experimental_products.html

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------------------------
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

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Silver Spring, MD 20910-3226
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