Integrated Coral Observing Network (ICON) - Media Luna (LPPR1 - La Parguera Natural Reserve, Puerto Rico) 2007 Meteorological and Oceanographic Observations (NODC Accession 0049877)

The Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) of OAR is conducting research on the influence of meteorological and oceanographic factors upon coral bleaching, and other biogeochemical processes occurring on coral reefs. Instrument arrays to measure the various environmental influences are being deployed at key coral reef areas to gain long-term temporally intensive data coverage, to provide near real-time information products, and to surface-truth NOAA satellite sea surface temperature (SST) products used for coral bleaching predictions (HotSpot products). OAR has developed expert system software plus the instrument array (together called a Coral Reef Early Warning System, or ICON, station) to screen data in near real-time to test for appropriate data ranges for each of the instruments, and to issue alerts as to conditions thought to be conducive to coral bleaching, and other modeled events. At each ICON station, local collaborators also provide feedback on the presence and progress of coral bleaching and thus validate coral bleaching predictions made by satellite HotSpots and ICON information products.

This station is within or near La Parguera Natural Reserve, Puerto Rico. La Parguera is located on the southwestern coast of Puerto Rico in the municipality of Lajas. The reserve includes all the coastline of the municipality of Lajas extending 1 km towards land from the shore and 9 nautical miles offshore. Marine and coastal ecosystem include mangroves, seagrass, reefs, bays and salt marshes. Features include bioluminescent bays. The LPPR1 coral monitoring station went online at Media Luna Reef in January of 2006, and has been providing continuous, near-real time in situ sensor data since that time.