[Coral-List] Re: Coral Bleaching in the Florida Keys

Jim Hendee Jim.Hendee at noaa.gov
Thu Aug 18 20:09:14 UTC 2005


Whoops, I meant LOW 30s!  The Keys are not melting!!

    Cheers,
    Jim

Jim Hendee wrote:

> Greetings,
>
>   We have been receiving coral bleaching alerts from our CREWS (Coral 
> Reef Early Warning System) stations in the Florida Keys, and there 
> have been warnings from the NESDIS HotSpots products.  Today extensive 
> coral bleaching was observed by Captain Chris Humphrey of the Florida 
> Institute of Oceanography at the Fowey Rocks SEAKEYS station, in 
> Biscayne Bay (near Miami).  He also observed extensive bleaching at 
> the Long Key site on the Florida Bay side of the Keys.  Some bleaching 
> was also observed at Sombrero Key (e.g., see CREWS report, below)about 
> a week ago, with ~25% of hard corals and ~75% of fire corals 
> exhibiting bleaching.  We have been receiving CREWS bleaching alerts 
> also from Sand Key, in the lower Florida Keys, but we have no 
> observations from there yet.  The conditions in the Keys now (and for 
> the last couple of weeks) are high 30s sea temperature, low winds, and 
> bright sunny days.
>
>   Unfortunately, the satellite transmitter for Fowey Rocks was fixed 
> only today, so we do not have data for the last week or so.  However, 
> here is the most recent CREWS report from the SEAKEYS station:
>
> ~~~~ Coral Bleaching Alert for Fowey Rocks 08/18/2005 ~~~~
>
> Rule-TW7 (6)
> Conditions possibly favorable for bleaching afternoon on 08/18/2005, 
> because  FIO sea temperature was very high (about 31.5), and wind 
> speed was very low (about 6.4) during afternoon  (but PAR not measured).
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
>   To see the SEAKEYS raw data reports, go to 
> http://www.coral.noaa.gov/seakeys/real_data.shtml
>
>   That is all for now.
>
>   Yours,
>   Jim
>
>
> ~~~~ Coral Bleaching Alert for Sombrero Reef 08/18/2005 ~~~~
>
>
> Rule-T8 (3)
> Conditions possibly favorable for bleaching evening on 08/18/2005, 
> because  FIO sea temperature was very high (about 31.0).
>
> Rule-T5 (6)
> Conditions possibly favorable for bleaching afternoon on 08/17/2005, 
> because  FIO sea temperature was very high (about 31.5).
>
> Rule-T8 (3)
> Conditions possibly favorable for bleaching mid-day on 08/17/2005, 
> because  FIO sea temperature was very high (about 31.0).
>
> Rule-T5 (6)
> Conditions possibly favorable for bleaching afternoon on 08/16/2005, 
> because  FIO sea temperature was very high (about 31.3).
>
> Rule-T8 (3)
> Conditions possibly favorable for bleaching evening on 08/14/2005, 
> because  FIO sea temperature was very high (about 31.1).
>
> Rule-T8 (3)
> Conditions possibly favorable for bleaching midnight on 08/14/2005, 
> because  FIO sea temperature was very high (about 31.1).
>
> Rule-TW5 (12)
> Conditions possibly favorable for bleaching afternoon on 08/13/2005, 
> because  FIO sea temperature was very high (about 31.3),  and wind 
> speed was very low (about 4.0) during afternoon  (but PAR not measured).
>
> Rule-TW7 (6)
> Conditions possibly favorable for bleaching afternoon on 08/13/2005, 
> because  FIO sea temperature was very high (about 31.1),  and wind 
> speed was very low (about 5.3) during afternoon  (but PAR not measured).
>
> Rule-TW7 (6)
> Conditions possibly favorable for bleaching afternoon on 08/12/2005, 
> because  FIO sea temperature was very high (about 31.1),  and wind 
> speed was very low (about 6.0) during afternoon  (but PAR not measured).
>
> Rule-T5 (6)
> Conditions possibly favorable for bleaching afternoon on 08/12/2005, 
> because  FIO sea temperature was very high (about 31.3).
>
> *** Mean sea temperature for all temperatures
>   in data report dated 08/18/2005 is 30.96
>
> ~~~~~~~
> H sea temp points:                                               30
> H sea temp, L wind points:                                       24
>
> Number of rules triggered:                                       10
>
>



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