Subject: FKNMS water temperature data. From: Jeff Anderson Date: Thu, 30 Nov 2006 11:31:58 -0500 To: Francis Mitchell Francis, Hello. How are you doing? Hopefully all is well. This is being written to provide our next full data submission for one of the bottom water temperature monitoring stations in the FL Keys. The first 3 files contain the meta data for the project in general, and the station in particular. The last file is the compressed data file. When extracted, the compressed file should contain the comma-separated data for the station. If you have any questions or concerns with the data, or the method we submitted it, please don't hesitate to let us know. Thank you very much and take care. Jeff Anderson Coral Restoration Monitoring Team Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary 305-852-7717, ext. 38 305-853-0877 (FAX) Project Summary --------------- A total of 38 subsurface recording thermographs have been deployed in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) and at other selected locations on the Florida Reef Tract and associated hydrologic ecosystems since 1988. These instruments have been programmed to record at 2 hour intervals and placed in permanent housings attached to suitable substrate. Data retrieval, servicing and reprogramming for continuous deployment have occurred, on average, annually. The collected data has been made available to FKNMS Managers and others who monitor and assess environmental conditions that influence FKNMS areas of the Florida Reef Tract. Project Objectives ------------------ The purpose of this project is 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. This is an ongoing project. Project Background ------------------ 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. Project Methods --------------- Ryan Industries, Inc. recording thermographs were deployed at strategic locations on the Florida Reef Tract during 1988*. Due to the Ryan Industries discontinuing their product line during the course of the project, a change to another manufacturer's thermograph was implemented. Now, Sea-Bird Electronics, Inc.* recording thermographs are used. To date, 38 thermographs have been deployed, completing a permanent network of these sensors from southern Broward County to the Dry Tortugas. In response to extreme anthropogenic events on the Florida Reef Tract and surrounding hydrologic ecosystems (e.g. Massive shipwreck groundings and associated reef restoration), monitoring stations have been positioned to provide project managers additional data for ongoing studies. 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. Project Coordinator ------------------- James Harold Hudson Sanctuary Biologist Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary P.O. Box 1083 95230 Overseas Hwy. Key Largo, FL 33037 USA 305-852-7717, ext. 29 harold.hudson@noaa.gov * Selection of this manufacturer's product does not constitute an official product endorsement by the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Readme.txt Content-Type: text/plain Content-Encoding: 7bit tblThermographs.csv Content-Type: application/vnd.ms-excel Content-Encoding: base64 tblStations for Pillar Coral Forest.csv Content-Type: application/vnd.ms-excel Content-Encoding: base64 FKNMS_PILLAR_WQDATA.zip Content-Type: application/x-zip-compressed Content-Encoding: base64