15 JULY -- SST HotSpot Notes: The 1997 El Nino continues as the most notable anomaly on the HotSpot chart. High temperatures in the northern Gulf of Mexico may be inducing a risk of bleaching for the Flower Gardens off Texas, as evidenced by this product. Another area to be watched, undoubtedly connected with the El Nino, is the mouth into the Gulf of California where SSTs are exceptionally high. The central and southern Red Sea are again showing signs of potential bleaching as they did briefly during mid-June. Also, the Gulf of Oman south of the Arabian Gulf has again warmed to high levels hinting that bleaching potential is high. Any feedback either confirming or dispelling coral reef bleaching at any of these sites would be appreciated. AES