=========================  Bleaching Report  =================


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************** Report from Rota, NMI ***************
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Report from:  Lisa Skilang

Date:         5 October 2001

"Rota, the island in the Mariana Islands, is known for its 
incredible visibility (100ft.+) and its fairly consistant 
conditions suitable for coral growth.  Over the past 2-4 
months in particular, we have had water temperatures of 86-89 F 
at depths of 80-100ft.  I found this a bit surprising and it 
seems to me that there has been quite a bit more bleaching 
occuring lately.  Other areas in Micronesia - Palau in
particular, have had devasting bleaching problems."

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Alan E. Strong
NOAA's Coral Reef Watch Project
NOAA/NESDIS

11 October 2001