• Energy Research

SST data was collected by loggers deployed at the reef sites (sampling rates of 1 per 15 - 30 mins). The data was then down sampled to monthly resolution to verify the precision and accuracy of satellite records that were collected from each of the reef sites.

The ability of massive corals to record the impacts of marine heat wave events provides a unique perspective into the variable responses of corals to anthropogenic climate change. In this study, coral cores (Porites sp.) were collected from 7 different reef environments across the NW shelf of Australia to examine the seasonal pattern of trace element (TE) Sr/Ca and Li/Mg ratios, and extension rate signatures associated with past marine heat waves in the region. Trace element anomalies and declines in linear extension rate were observed in the records during the late 1990s (1 of 5 records) and more recently during the summers of 2011 (3 of 7 records) and 2013 (5 of 7 records), indicating the impacts of marine heat waves have become increasingly widespread in the region. However, for the summers of 2011 and 2013, no significant relationships were observed between the magnitude of these TE ratio anomalies in the core records, and maximum thermal stresses predicted at the reef sites from high-resolution satellite records. We show that the strongest individual reductions in linear extension rates and associated ratio anomalies occurred during the 2011 heat wave, rather than during the subsequent and more intense (~ 1 °C warmer) 2013 event. Together these observations suggest that at the local reef-scale Porites colonies and their symbionts exhibit differential responses to heat wave events, with the prior exposure to less intense events probably playing an important role in acclimatisation.

Preliminary ages were assigned to sample datasets by assigning seasonal trace element ratios minima and maxima in datasets to warmest and coolest months in satellite SST records and then linearly interpolating in-between

Preliminary ages were assigned to sample datasets by assigning seasonal trace element ratios minima and maxima in datasets to warmest and coolest months in satellite SST records and then linearly interpolating in-between

SST data was collected by loggers deployed at the reef sites (sampling rates of 1 per 15 - 30 mins). The data was then down sampled to monthly resolution to verify the precision and accuracy of satellite records that were collected from each of the reef sites.

Preliminary ages were assigned to sample datasets by assigning seasonal trace element ratios minima and maxima in datasets to warmest and coolest months in satellite SST records and then linearly interpolating in-between

The ability of massive corals to record the impacts of marine heat wave events provides a unique perspective into the variable responses of corals to anthropogenic climate change. In this study, coral cores (Porites sp.) were collected from 7 different reef environments across the NW shelf of Australia to examine the seasonal pattern of trace element (TE) Sr/Ca and Li/Mg ratios, and extension rate signatures associated with past marine heat waves in the region. Trace element anomalies and declines in linear extension rate were observed in the records during the late 1990s (1 of 5 records) and more recently during the summers of 2011 (3 of 7 records) and 2013 (5 of 7 records), indicating the impacts of marine heat waves have become increasingly widespread in the region. However, for the summers of 2011 and 2013, no significant relationships were observed between the magnitude of these TE ratio anomalies in the core records, and maximum thermal stresses predicted at the reef sites from high-resolution satellite records. We show that the strongest individual reductions in linear extension rates and associated ratio anomalies occurred during the 2011 heat wave, rather than during the subsequent and more intense (~ 1 °C warmer) 2013 event. Together these observations suggest that at the local reef-scale Porites colonies and their symbionts exhibit differential responses to heat wave events, with the prior exposure to less intense events probably playing an important role in acclimatisation. Supplement to: Clarke, Harry; D'Olivo, Juan Pablo; Conde, Mario; Evans, R D; McCulloch, Malcolm T (2019): Coral Records of Variable Stress Impacts and Possible Acclimatization to Recent Marine Heat Wave Events on the Northwest Shelf of Australia. Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology, 34(11), 1672-1688

Preliminary ages were assigned to sample datasets by assigning seasonal trace element ratios minima and maxima in datasets to warmest and coolest months in satellite SST records and then linearly interpolating in-between

SST data was collected by loggers deployed at the reef sites (sampling rates of 1 per 15 - 30 mins). The data was then down sampled to monthly resolution to verify the precision and accuracy of satellite records that were collected from each of the reef sites.