(2007) analyzed which aspects of temperature best explained the severe bleaching events that covered the entirety of the Florida Reef Tract in 1997, 1998, and 2005 at multiple sites within the Florida Reef Tract (Fowey Rocks, Molasses Reef, Sombrero Reef, Sand Key, and Dry Tortugas) by examining three variables of thermal change: 1) short term changes in temperature; 2) cumulative temperature changes; and 3) temperature variability. Results show that maximum monthly sea surface temperatures were the most important factor in each of the three severe bleaching events signifying long periods of exposure to high temperatures resulted in the extreme bleaching events (Figure 3). The temperature data also shows that bi-weekly temperature fluctuations during summer months did not correlate with bleaching years at any of the sites, and the thermal shock of fluctuating temperature is not the cause of any of the major bleaching
(2007) analyzed which aspects of temperature best explained the severe bleaching events that covered the entirety of the Florida Reef Tract in 1997, 1998, and 2005 at multiple sites within the Florida Reef Tract (Fowey Rocks, Molasses Reef, Sombrero Reef, Sand Key, and Dry Tortugas) by examining three variables of thermal change: 1) short term changes in temperature; 2) cumulative temperature changes; and 3) temperature variability. Results show that maximum monthly sea surface temperatures were the most important factor in each of the three severe bleaching events signifying long periods of exposure to high temperatures resulted in the extreme bleaching events (Figure 3). The temperature data also shows that bi-weekly temperature fluctuations during summer months did not correlate with bleaching years at any of the sites, and the thermal shock of fluctuating temperature is not the cause of any of the major bleaching