U.S. Virgin Island Potential Bleaching Event - "Heads up"

Anomalously high sea surface temperatures (SSTs) have been 
developing over a large area of the North Atlantic Ocean since 
July and now are present over most of the Caribbean Sea.
http://www.osdpd.noaa.gov/PSB/EPS/SST/climohot.html

The SST at U.S. Virgin Island has been creeping up above the 
summertime maximum monthly mean SST since mid-August and now 
is approaching the bleaching threshold.
http://orbit-net.nesdis.noaa.gov/orad/sub/sst_series_virgin_cur.html

Our Degree Heating Week chart shows that DHW has stated to 
accumulate at U.S. Virgin Island. There is a potential for 
bleaching if SST continues to rise in the area.
http://www.osdpd.noaa.gov/PSB/EPS/SST/dhw_retro.html

Any feedback you can provide is useful: both bleaching and
non-bleaching observations, are welcome.

===============================================================
**          BLEACHING WARNING  for  Virgin Island
===============================================================

Current thermal stress level at this site: 
                       (HotSpot => 1) and (0 < DHW <= 4)

Reef site name:           Virgin Island
 -- Pixel latitude:         18.0000
 -- Pixel longitude:       -64.0000

Current satellite observations:   9/6/2003 - 9/9/2003
 -- Sea surface temperature          :      29.4000  Deg C
 -- Coral bleaching HotSpot          :      1.10000  Deg C
 -- Bleaching Degree Heating Weeks   :     0.500000  Deg C-week
 -- Maximum Monthly Mean SST at site :      28.3000  Deg C


For more information please visit Coral Reef Watch's Website:
http://orbit-net.nesdis.noaa.gov/orad/coral_bleaching_index.html
http://www.osdpd.noaa.gov/PSB/EPS/SST/dhw_news.html

================================================================

Please send the feebback to 
Alan Strong (Alan.E.Strong@noaa.gov) and/or Gang Liu (Gang.Liu@noaa.gov)


Alan E Strong
Coral Reef Watch Project
http://orbit-net.nesdis.noaa.gov/orad/coral_bleaching_index.html