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


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*******  Bleaching Report from Okinawa  ***********
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Report from:  Rob van Woesik
              University of the Ryukyus, Japan

Date:         19 September 2001


"Okinawa reefs still have extensive areas of bleached corals (written 
on September 19, 2001).  Bleaching was considerably worse along the 
main island of Okinawa compared with small islands offshore. 

"Just yesterday I spent 5 hours getting data on this - the SSTs have 
dropped to 28 degree C and recovery is likely (in other words, if a 
coral is still alive today, then judging by response during the 1998 
event, it will probably recover)."

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

19 September 2001