Sea surface temperature and ocean colour (MODIS/AQUA) space and time variability in Indonesian Sea coral reef systems from 2002 to 2011

摘要

Presently, there are already Indonesian coral reefs experiencing massive destruction caused by anthropogenic local-scale sources (sedimentation, eutrophication) and/or natural climatic global-scale sources (temperature) which can inflict acute and/or chronic impacts on these ecosystems. This study was carried out with the aim of identifying possible sources of impact in coral reef systems associated with two of the most populated Indonesian cities (Makassar and Jakarta). MODIS/AQUA satellite-derived Ocean Colour (Chlo-a in mg m~(-3)) and Sea Surface Temperature (SST in deg C) data were used for the 2002-2011 period. These were related with large-scale atmospheric climatic indices, namely the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI), the Dipole Mode Index (DMI), and the North Atlantic Oscillation Index (NAOI). Beyond the expected influence of the El Nino Index over the Indonesian region, we present first evidence of the significant influence of the NAOI in Indonesian ecosystems. The results show strong seasonal correlation between the NAOI and two key parameters for the coral reef health: chlorophyll a (at Jakarta) and SST (at Makassar). During the dry season, and especially over the Spermonde coral reef system, a seasonal SST uptrend was observed culminating in the first bleaching event registered in this area during the hottest year (2010) since 2002.