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NOAA

Contact:
Patricia Viets, NOAA Satellite and Information Services
(301) 457-5005, Patricia.Viets{at}noaa.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 2/25/03

NOAA 2003-020

NOAA USING SATELLITE DATA TO MONITOR HEAT STRESSES ON CORAL REEFS

Scientists at the Commerce Department's National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are using satellite data to monitor 
the long-term effects of heat stresses on several coral reefs 
throughout the world.

While the scientists have been monitoring the stresses for some time, 
NOAA's National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service 
is now providing an operational product called "Degree Heating Week".

"Degree Heating Weeks (DHW) have been available experimentally for 
some time," said Dr. Alan Strong, coordinator of Coral Reef Watch at 
NOAA Satellites and Information. "Turning operational means that coral 
reef managers and stake holders will now have up-to-date, accurate, 
and reliable information on the status of their reefs and may be able 
to take active measures to prevent further damage if their site has a 
high DHW rating."

Using satellite-derived information, DHW's continuously monitor the 
cumulative thermal stress of several coral reefs throughout the globe, 
including Australia's Great Barrier Reef, Galapagos, the Bahamas, and 
others. The extent and acuteness of thermal stress, key predictors of 
coral bleaching, contribute to coral reef degradation worldwide.

Coral reefs compose a large and integral part of the coastal ocean, 
supporting a variety of sea life and providing resources of 
significant economic importance.  Coral bleaching occurs as coral 
tissue expels zooxanthellae, a symbiotic algae essential to coral
survival that resides within the structure of the coral.  Bleaching is 
induced by high water temperatures.

A Degree Heating Week is designed to indicate the accumulated stress 
experienced by coral reefs. For example, if the current temperature of 
a reef site exceeds the maximum expected summertime temperature by one 
degree Celsius, then the site receives a rating of 1 DHW. If the 
current temperature at the site is two degrees Celsius above the 
maximum expected summertime temperature or one degree above for a 
period of two weeks, the site would receive a rating of 2 DHWs, and so 
on.

With the operational product, NOAA Satellites and Information will 
provide continuous technical support on a 24-hour, seven-day basis, 
and will maintain a Web site which will be updated twice a week.

NOAA Satellites and Information is the nation's primary source of 
space-based meteorological and climate data.  NOAA Satellites and 
Information operates the nation's environmental satellites, which are 
used for weather and ocean observation and forecasting, climate
monitoring and other environmental applications.  Applications include 
sea-surface temperature, fire detection, ozone monitoring.

NOAA Satellites and Information also operates three data centers, 
which house global data bases in climatology, oceanography, solid 
earth geophysics, marine geology and geophysics, solar-terrestrial 
physics, and paleoclimatology.

The Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmosphere
Administration (NOAA) is dedicated to enhancing economic security and 
national safety through the prediction and research of weather and 
climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of our 
nation's coastal and marine resources.

On the Web:

* NOAA
  http://www.noaa.gov
* NOAA Satellites and Information
  http://www.nesdis.noaa.gov
* Degree Heating Week
  http://www.osdpd.noaa.gov/PSB/EPS/SST/dhw_retro.html
* NOAA's Coral Reef
  http://www.coralreef.noaa.gov/

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