CoRTAD: Coral Reef Temperature Anomaly Database (SST)
"The Coral Reef Temperature Anomaly Database (CoRTAD) is a collection of sea surface temperature (SST) and related thermal stress metrics, developed specifically for coral reef ecosystem applications but relevant to other ecosystems as well. In addition to SST, it contains SST anomaly (SSTA, weekly SST minus weekly climatological SST), thermal stress anomaly (TSA, weekly SST minus the maximum weekly climatological SST), SSTA Degree Heating Week (SSTA_DHW, sum of previous 12 weeks when SSTA >= 1 degree C), SSTA Frequency (number of times over previous 52 weeks that SSTA >= 1 degree C), TSA DHW (TSA_DHW, also known as a Degree Heating Week, sum of previous 12 weeks when TSA >= 1 degree C),and TSA Frequency (number of times over previous 52 weeks that TSA >= 1 degree C).
To provide SST data and related thermal stress parameters with good temporal consistency, high accuracy, and fine spatial resolution. The CoRTAD is intended primarily for climate and ecosystem related applications and studies and was designed specifically to address questions concerning the relationship between coral disease and bleaching and temperature stress."
Key Strengths
Targeted at questions concerning the relationship between coral disease and bleaching and temperature stress
Dataset is 'tiled' to allow smaller datasets.
Each tile containing the entire time series for the region.
Key Figures
Map illustrating CoRTAD tile identifiers (downloaded from http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/SatelliteData/cortad/TileMap.jpg)
Other Information
AVHRR-GHC (satellite data)
4km
- Selig, E. R., Casey, K. S. and Bruno, J. F. (2012), Temperature-driven coral decline: the role of marine protected areas. Global Change Biology, 18: 1561–1570
- Maina, J, TR McClanahan, V Venus, M Ateweberhan, and J Madin (2011). Global Gradients of Coral Exposure to Environmental Stresses and Implications for Local Management. PLoS ONE 6(8): e23064
- McLeod et al (2010) 'Warming Seas in the Coral Triangle: Coral Reef Vulnerability and Management Implications., Coastal Management, 38: 5, 518-539
- Halpern et al (2008): A global map of human impact on marine ecosystems. Science, vol. 319, no. 5865, pp. 948-952