Scientists monitoring coral in Northwestern Hawaiian Islands for bleaching
By Audrey Mcavoy, APSunday, August 22, 2010
Scientists monitoring Hawaii coral for bleaching
PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii — Scientists plan to monitor corals in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands next month for signs of bleaching that could harm the reefs.
They’re due to leave for the remote string of atolls in a week.
Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument Deputy Superintendent Randall Kosaki says they’ll be observing the corals in September, the hottest month of the year in Hawaii.
Corals become stressed and expel the algae that live inside them when temperatures are warmer than normal. This causes corals to lose their color and appear white.
Corals may die if this continues for extended periods.
Kosaki says a mass of warm water from Southeast Asia — where corals have suffered significant bleaching already this year — is currently pushing into the North Pacific.
