6 DECEMBER 1997. CHRISTMAS ISLANDS (KARIBATI): CLIMATE & CORAL BLEACHING

According to an AP report, Richard Fairbanks, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University is reporting coral bleaching and seabird desertion at Christmas Island, the world's largest atoll. Water temperature was 7 degrees warmer (F?) than usual, fish were scarce, and seabirds had almost completely deserted. "Forty percent of the island's coral was dead"--based on an Associated Press report sent by Mark Rauzon <Mjrauz@aol.com>

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