Coral Reef Watch – In-situ Observations (Pacific)Coral Reef Watch – In-situ Observations (Pacific)

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NOW Mar04

Long-Term Ecosystem &

Oceanographic Monitoring CREWS buoys telemeter SST, salinity, wind direction & speed, atm pressure, air temp, PAR and UV-B

Subsurface Ocean Data Platform measures ocean current profiles, waves energy and direction, temperature, salinity and pressure

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Surface Systems – Near Real-time Telemetered DataSurface Systems – Near Real-time Telemetered Data

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Subsurface Systems – Data Archived Subsurface Systems – Data Archived

The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States and Pacific Freely Associated United States and Pacific Freely Associated

States: 2002States: 2002

“ Hoegh-Guldberg (1999) in a recent report on the future of Hoegh-Guldberg (1999) in a recent report on the future of global bleaching events suggested that the central Pacific, global bleaching events suggested that the central Pacific,

and especially Hawaiiand especially Hawaii, will be among the last reefs to , will be among the last reefs to experience major bleaching events.” experience major bleaching events.”

September 18, 2002September 18, 2002

NWHI Coral Bleaching 2002

PocilloporaPocilloporaPoritesPorites

MontiporaMontipora

Analysis of towboard videotapes:

Pearl & Hermes Pearl & Hermes Atoll: Atoll: Preliminary Preliminary assessments of assessments of % bleaching % bleaching from in situ from in situ observationsobservations

Pearl and Hermes Atoll

Midway Atoll: Midway Atoll: Preliminary Preliminary

assessments of assessments of % bleaching % bleaching from from in situin situ

observationsobservations

Analysis of towboard Analysis of towboard videotapes:videotapes:

Midway Atoll

Kure Atoll: Preliminary observations of % bleaching from in situ observations

Analysis of towboard videotapes:

Kure Atoll: Kure Atoll: Preliminary Preliminary assessments of assessments of % bleaching % bleaching from in situ from in situ observationsobservations

distance surveyed

(km)

average % coral cover

average % coral

bleached

distance surveyed

(km)

average % coral cover

average % coral

bleachedKure 12.26 10.19 64.09 10.56 6.72 14.35Midway 8.66 11.26 77.41 21.95 1.59 15.04P&H 35.22 10.20 66.14 4.88 5.89 75.38*

TOTAL:

*15-17ft. Pearl & Hermes; 29-55 ft. Midway & Kure

56.14 km (34.9 miles) 37.39 km (23.2 miles)

Backreef (1-13' depth) Forereef *

Summary: % Bleaching by HabitatSummary: % Bleaching by Habitat

ModerateHighest Lowest

U.S. Line and Phoenix Islands (Central Pacific)U.S. Line and Phoenix Islands (Central Pacific)

Inter-Annual Variability:Inter-Annual Variability:Relatively large changes in Relatively large changes in temperatures between years.temperatures between years.

Nearest-Neighbor Nearest-Neighbor interpolation of interpolation of CTD Station CTD Station TemperaturesTemperatures

2000 La Nina

2001

2002 El Nino

American SamoaAmerican Samoa

Integration of Integration of Physical & Biological Physical & Biological

ObservationsObservations

Benthic Benthic HabitatHabitat

Ocean Ocean TemperaturesTemperatures

Rose Atoll, American SamoaRose Atoll, American Samoa

Fagasa Bay

Amanave Bay

Aunu’u Island

2003 Bleaching Alert for

American Samoa

2003 Bleaching Alert for

American Samoa

NOAA NESDIS 50 km Hotspot Analysis – 1/28/03

SummarySummary Coral Reef Watch integrates:

Satellite Observations

In-situ Observations

Ocean Modeling

Issues warnings and alerts

Need to also integrate with:

Biological monitoring of corals, other invertebrates, fish and algae

Socio-economic monitoring of anthropogenic activities

Need commitment to long-term monitoring of physical, biological, and socio-economic parameters for sustainable conservation and management.

Coral Reef Watch integrates:

Satellite Observations

In-situ Observations

Ocean Modeling

Issues warnings and alerts

Need to also integrate with:

Biological monitoring of corals, other invertebrates, fish and algae

Socio-economic monitoring of anthropogenic activities

Need commitment to long-term monitoring of physical, biological, and socio-economic parameters for sustainable conservation and management.