It is well understood that temperature is a major factor controlling distribution, growth and survival of the world's coral reefs. This is especially true of high latitude reefs such as those of the Florida Reef Tract where seasonal temperature extremes detrimental to coral health frequently occur. Past environmental perturbations in the Caribbean and southeast Florida that may be linked to elevated seawater temperature include coral bleaching, a sea urchin die-off, black band coral disease and a seagrass die-off. The first 3 disturbances occurred on a massive scale throughout the Caribbean and southeast Florida. Large-scale die off of seagrass has thus far only been documented in the Florida Bay area of the Florida Keys. This project is a cost-effective and integral part of an overall plan to monitor the Florida Keys coral reef ecosystem
Resource Description: NODC Accession Number 0002807. Associated data for 2004-2006 are filed under NODC accession number 0014320
Online Links:
Harold Hudson, Project Coordinator, and Jeff Anderson, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
To document bottom seawater temperature in strategic areas of the Florida Reef Tract on a continuing basis and make that information available to management and research user groups.
A hollow, pre-cast concrete coral head or concrete and PVC monument have been used to protect and conceal thermographs. Where appropriate, bolt-on stainless steel brackets were used to secure instruments to structural supports (e.g. concrete or steel pilings) of fixed bridges or navigational aids.
Experience has shown that a 2 hour recording mode is adequate to monitor changes in reef tract bottom water
temperature. Data has been collected, on average, annually from all instruments. Due to mechanical problems
with some instruments, there are occasional gaps in the data streams from some of the monitoring stations.
Person who carried out this activity:
Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
- Access_Constraints: None
- Use_Constraints:
- None. NOAA and NODC would appreciate recognition as the resource from which these data were obtained in any publications and/or other representations of these data.
NOAA makes no warranty regarding these data, expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NODC cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data, nor as a result of the failure of these data to function on a particular system.
Data format: | Data table files, readme file in format CSV In .csv format, Microsoft Excel or other spreadsheet program, UNIX Size: 2 |
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Network links: |
https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0002807 |
Data may be directly downloaded through the NODC website at: http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/search/prod/. NODC can be contacted directly for custom orders. (When requesting data from the NODC, the desired data set may be referred to by the 7-digit number given in the RESOURCE DESCRIPTION field of this metadata record).
Within 24 hours if downloaded via the Internet
Contact the NODC User Services Group via phone/FAX/E-mail: nodc.services@noaa.gov
Ability to work with .csv files.