Intro to Oceanography, Summer 2025

Case Study: Coral Bleaching: Where did the color go?

Review The Following Website https://coralreefwatch.noaa.gov/satellite/index.php 

1. Explain in your own words what ‘coral bleaching’ is. Be sure to mention the key temperature thresholds (remember I like numbers, warm is not sufficient) and organisms involved. Do not copy and paste the definition from the site without paraphrasing and providing proper reference.
2. Define what it means to be under the various levels: Watch, Warning, Alert Level 1, and Alert Level 2. Download the image for the current Daily 5km Bleaching Alert Area, insert it into your document and describe the regions that are currently at Alert Levels 1 or 2. (To help with this discussion, consider latitudinal boundaries, any differences between ocean basins, seasonality).
3. From the Coral Reef Watch Home page, click on Outlook (to the left of the map), and then the Weekly Animation of the 90% Chance of Stress. Describe the general trend, what do you think is responsible for the pattern of migration observed in the forecast?
4. Go back to the home page. Click the Virtual Stations button below and to the left of the map. Select a Virtual Station that is currently undergoing an Alert Level 1 or 2. Click on the Time Series Graphs & Data in the pop-up window. Download and insert the graph for 2024-2025. For your selected station what is the Bleaching Threshold SST and Maximum Monthly Mean SST.
   1. How does the current sea surface temperature at the station compare to them?
   1. Review the multi-year graph (click on the multi-year graph link), how far back does the time series go and did any other year have a more significant heat stress event?
   1. Were there any years that did not exceed the bleaching threshold?
5.  Synthesize the data that you have viewed with respect to global warming.  What is the relationship between the two? 
6. What ecosystem services do coral reefs provide?  What are the consequences of destroying coral reefs for humans?
7. Describe three major threats to coral reefs?
8. Suggest policy ideas that would protect coral reefs. What time scale would you suggest that policy changes be implemented?

Need Help with Your Assignment? Let us Help you

Place Your Order

We guarantee you the following if you order your paper with us

High Quality Papers

All papers are written by ENL (US, UK, AUSTRALIA) writers with vast experience in the field. We perform a quality assessment on all orders before submitting them.

Timely Delivery

Do you have an urgent order?  We have more than enough writers who will ensure that your order is delivered on time. 

100% Original

We provide plagiarism reports for all our custom written papers. All papers are written from scratch.

24/7 Customer Support

Contact us anytime, any day, via any means if you need any help. You can use the Live Chat, email, or our provided phone number anytime.

Confidential and Secure

We will not disclose the nature of our services or any information you provide to a third party.

Stressed? We got you covered

Money-Back Guarantee

Get your money back if your paper is not delivered on time or if your instructions are not followed.

We Guarantee the Best Grades

Get a Professional Answer