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HERO ID
8671520
Reference Type
Journal Article
Title
ReefTemp: An interactive monitoring system for coral bleaching using high-resolution SST and improved stress predictors
Author(s)
Maynard, JA; Turner, PJ; Anthony, KRN; Baird, AH; Berkelmans, Ray; Eakin, CM; Johnson, J; Marshall, PA; Packer, GR; Rea, A; Willis, BL
Year
2008
Is Peer Reviewed?
Yes
Journal
Geophysical Research Letters
ISSN:
0094-8276
EISSN:
1944-8007
Volume
35
Issue
5
DOI
10.1029/2007GL032175
Web of Science Id
WOS:000254155800003
Abstract
Anomalously high sea surface temperatures (SST) have led to repeated mass coral bleaching events on a global scale. Existing satellite-based systems used to monitor conditions conducive to bleaching are based on low-resolution (0.5 degrees, similar to 50 km) SST data. While these systems have served the research and management community well, they have inherent weaknesses that limit their capacity to predict stress on coral reefs at local scales, over which bleaching severity is known to vary dramatically. Here we discuss the development and testing of ReefTemp, a new operational remote sensing application for the Great Barrier Reef that assesses bleaching risk daily using: high-resolution ( 2 km) SST, regionally validated thermal stress indices, and color-graded legends directly related to past observations of bleaching severity. Given projections of sea temperature rise, ReefTemp is timely as it can accurately predict bleaching severity at a local scale and therefore help to give focus to future research and monitoring efforts.
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