An early alert of bleaching conditions in the Caribbean Sea from Coral Reef Watch In the fall of 2005, major bleaching of coral reefs occurred in the Caribbean Sea. The Satellite Bleaching Alert system (of NOAA's Coral Reef Watch) provided early warnings of the onset of this event. This system of products automatically monitors for the thermal stress that gives rise to coral bleaching. Record high thermal stress was observed, and an international effort to document the extent of the bleaching began. The bleaching resulted from the most intense high temperature stress ever seen in the Caribbean Sea (in both the 20-year satellite record and the 100-year instrumental record). NOAA Coral Reef Watch collected over 1500 observations in the wider Caribbean region, from 100 observers in 22 countries, states, and territories. Many sites reported from 90 to 100% of their corals bleached, and 50% or more mortality of corals. 2005 Annual Composite of Maximum Twice-Weekly Degree Heating Weeks Maximum values of the index for Degree Heating Weeks (DHW), an indicator of accumulated thermal stress, in 2005. Each DHW represents one week of temperatures that are 1ºC above the highest monthly average temperature at a location. DHW values are accumulated over 12 weeks. DHW values over four are virtually always accompanied by bleaching and levels over eight result in mass coral bleaching, onset of mortality of corals, and inability of coral reefs to recover. This product is produced by NOAA Coral Reef Watch. |
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