Weather-beaten corals now face 'worst' threat
By Mat Probasco
Virgin Islands - Scientists have issued their strongest warning so far this year that unusually warm Caribbean Sea temperatures threaten coral reefs that suffered widespread damage last year in record-setting heat.
Waters have reached 29,7°C around the U.S. Virgin Islands and 29,5°C around Puerto Rico - temperatures at which coral can be damaged if waters do not cool after a few weeks - said Al Strong, a scientist with the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Coral Reef Watch, in a telephone interview on Monday.
The warning issued Saturday by NOAA urges scuba-dive operators and underwater researchers in the US Caribbean territories to look for coral damage and use caution around the fragile reefs, which are easily damaged by physical contact.
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Virgin Islands - Scientists have issued their strongest warning so far this year that unusually warm Caribbean Sea temperatures threaten coral reefs that suffered widespread damage last year in record-setting heat.
Waters have reached 29,7°C around the U.S. Virgin Islands and 29,5°C around Puerto Rico - temperatures at which coral can be damaged if waters do not cool after a few weeks - said Al Strong, a scientist with the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Coral Reef Watch, in a telephone interview on Monday.
The warning issued Saturday by NOAA urges scuba-dive operators and underwater researchers in the US Caribbean territories to look for coral damage and use caution around the fragile reefs, which are easily damaged by physical contact.
story continued
posted by anthony m, at 7:16 PM
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