mattb
08-07-2007, 02:18 PM
Florida Keys
Following on to the increased potential for bleaching that we
reported two weeks ago, thermal stress has continued to increase in
the lower Florida Keys. This results from heating of the Florida Bay
waters to an anomaly well over 1 degree C. Another similar region of
anomalous warmth extends along the western coast of the Bahamas from
Andros Island to Grand Bahamas Island. The Florida Bay waters that
bathe the lower Florida Keys and the waters from northwestern Andros
to Bimini have accumulated more than 4 degree weeks of warming,
placing both areas under a Level 1 Bleaching Alert.
Late last week, Billy Causey reported about 10% bleaching of corals
off West Summerland Key around the western side of Bahia Honda
Channel on the ocean side of the bridge. It was especially
disturbing that the bleaching was hitting a diverse group of coral
species, not just the more sensitive ones.
Ishigaki Island, Japan
Coral bleaching is observed in Ishigaki Is. since late July.
High SST(>30C) has continued around the southwest Ryukyu archipelago
this summer.
SST is measured at 35 degree C at the most affected area of bleaching
(shallow lagoon) in the daytime.
Kenting National Park, Taiwan
Starting from mid-late June, high SST (30C) is observed around the
area of Southeast Taiwan, northern Philippine, and northern South
China. Coral bleaching starts to develop in the mid July along the
fringing reef at the Kenting National Park, Taiwan. Corals at shallow
water (<5m) are bleaching intensively in the lat July. Over 45 hard
coral species, mainly millepora and acroporids, are bleached at the
first two surveys. Video transect surveys indicate over 70% of corals
are affected. The most serious site is the fringing reef near the
outlet of nuclear powerplant, where SST is measured at 35C degree at
3 m in depth.
The coral bleaching can be ranked as the most serious bleaching event
in the Kenting reef sincr the mass coral bleaching in 1998-1999.
Following on to the increased potential for bleaching that we
reported two weeks ago, thermal stress has continued to increase in
the lower Florida Keys. This results from heating of the Florida Bay
waters to an anomaly well over 1 degree C. Another similar region of
anomalous warmth extends along the western coast of the Bahamas from
Andros Island to Grand Bahamas Island. The Florida Bay waters that
bathe the lower Florida Keys and the waters from northwestern Andros
to Bimini have accumulated more than 4 degree weeks of warming,
placing both areas under a Level 1 Bleaching Alert.
Late last week, Billy Causey reported about 10% bleaching of corals
off West Summerland Key around the western side of Bahia Honda
Channel on the ocean side of the bridge. It was especially
disturbing that the bleaching was hitting a diverse group of coral
species, not just the more sensitive ones.
Ishigaki Island, Japan
Coral bleaching is observed in Ishigaki Is. since late July.
High SST(>30C) has continued around the southwest Ryukyu archipelago
this summer.
SST is measured at 35 degree C at the most affected area of bleaching
(shallow lagoon) in the daytime.
Kenting National Park, Taiwan
Starting from mid-late June, high SST (30C) is observed around the
area of Southeast Taiwan, northern Philippine, and northern South
China. Coral bleaching starts to develop in the mid July along the
fringing reef at the Kenting National Park, Taiwan. Corals at shallow
water (<5m) are bleaching intensively in the lat July. Over 45 hard
coral species, mainly millepora and acroporids, are bleached at the
first two surveys. Video transect surveys indicate over 70% of corals
are affected. The most serious site is the fringing reef near the
outlet of nuclear powerplant, where SST is measured at 35C degree at
3 m in depth.
The coral bleaching can be ranked as the most serious bleaching event
in the Kenting reef sincr the mass coral bleaching in 1998-1999.