Thermal Stress Monitoring for Coral Reef Conservation Multivariate Analysis of the Brazilian Coast
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Aug 24, 2026
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Coral reefs, high-biodiversity ecosystems, are critically threatened by rising water temperatures, the main trigger for coral bleaching. This study aimed to assess thermal risk in two Brazilian reef regions, the Baía de Todos-os-Santos (BTS) and the EPA (environmental protection area) Costa dos Corais, using the NOAA-provided Degree Heating Weeks (DHW) metric. The methodology employed thermal stress metrics on remote sensing data and high-resolution in situ buoy measurements, standardizing the DHW calculation to ensure comparability between sources. Results showed that buoy data are crucial, capturing thermal variations and short-duration extreme events often missed by satellite estimates. Interannual analysis for the BTS (2020–2025) identified that 2024 recorded the highest DHW peak (above 12), a maximum alert level consistent with mass mortality observed in the Northeast during the El Niño event. The study concludes that combining satellite monitoring with the local precision of buoys is essential to optimize conservation strategies and bleaching prediction in a changing climate scenario.
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Como Citar
Maia, C. H., de Medeiros, D., Bezerra, K., dos Santos, D., & de Sena, M. (2026). Thermal Stress Monitoring for Coral Reef Conservation. Revista De Engenharia E Pesquisa Aplicada, 11(3), 22-29. https://doi.org/10.25286/repa.v11i3.3907
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Edição Especial Ingenia
Referências
[1] UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME. Coral Reefs. Nairobi: UNEP, [s.d.]. Available at: https://www.unep.org/topics/ocean-seas-and-coasts/blue-ecosystems/coral-reefs. Accessed June 17, 2024.
[2] LOUGH, J. M.; VAN OPPEN, M. J. H. Introduction: Coral Bleaching—Patterns, Processes, Causes and Consequences. In: VAN OPPEN, M. J. H.; LOUGH, J. M. (ed.). Coral Bleaching: Patterns, Processes, Causes and Consequences. 2nd ed. Cham: Springer, 2018. (Ecological Studies, v. 233). p. 1–8.
[3] BOONNAM, N. et al. Coral Reef Bleaching under Climate Change: Prediction Modeling and Machine Learning. Sustainability, v. 14, n. 10, p. 6161, 2022. DOI: 10.3390/su14106161. Available at: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/10/6161.
[4] CORNET, V. J. et al. Enhancing coral bleaching predictive tools through integrating sensitivity to heat exposure. Biological Conservation, v. 302, p. 110958, 2025. DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2024.110958. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S000632072400361X.
[5] QIN, B.; YU, K.; ZUO, X. Study of the bleaching alert capability of the CRW and CoRTAD coral bleaching heat stress products in China's coral reefs. Marine Environmental Research, v. 186, p. 105939, 2023. DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.105939. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0141113623000941.
[6] MULLER-PARKER, G.; D'ELIA, C. F.; COOK, C. B. Interactions Between Corals and Their Symbiotic Algae. In: BIRKELAND, C. (ed.). Coral Reefs in the Anthropocene. Dordrecht: Springer, 2015. p. 91–112. DOI: 10.1007/978-94-017-7249-5_5.
[7] DOUGLAS, A. E. Coral bleaching—how and why? Marine Pollution Bulletin, v. 46, n. 4, p. 385–392, 2003. DOI: 10.1016/S0025-326X(03)00037-7. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X03000377.
[8] PANJA, A. K.; JAISWAL, S.; HALDAR, S. Time series (2003–15) analysis of selected physicochemical parameters in Indian Ocean: Cumulative impacts prediction on coral bleaching using machine learning. Science of the Total Environment, v. 933, p. 173002, 2024. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173002. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004896972403245X.
[9] INNIS, T. et al. Marine heatwaves depress metabolic activity and impair cellular acid-base homeostasis in reef-building corals regardless of bleaching susceptibility. Global Change Biology, v. 27, n. 12, p. 2728–2743, 2021. DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15622. Available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/gcb.15622.
[10] KEIGHAN, R. et al. Moderate chlorophyll-a environments reduce coral bleaching during thermal stress in Yap, Micronesia. Scientific Reports, v. 13, p. 9338, 2023. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-36104-5. Available at: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-36104-5.
[11] SCHOEPF, V. et al. Impacts of coral bleaching on pH and oxygen gradients across the coral concentration boundary layer: a microsensor study. Coral Reefs, v. 37, p. 1169–1180, 2018. DOI: 10.1007/s00338-018-01743-y. Available at: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00338-018-01743-y.
[12] MASON, R. A. B.; BOZEC, Y. M.; MUMBY, P. J. Coral bleaching and mortality overestimated in projections based on Degree Heating Months. Nature Geoscience, v. 18, p. 120–123, 2025. DOI: 10.1038/s41561-024-01582-3. Available at: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-024-01582-3.
[13] WARNER, M. E.; FITT, W. K.; SCHMIDT, G. W. Damage to photosystem II in symbiotic dinoflagellates: A determinant of coral bleaching. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, v. 96, n. 14, p. 8007–8012, 1999. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.96.14.8007. Available at: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.96.14.8007.
[14] LIU, G. et al. Reef-Scale Thermal Stress Monitoring of Coral Ecosystems: New 5-km Global Products from NOAA Coral Reef Watch. Remote Sensing, v. 6, n. 11, p. 11579–11606, 2014. DOI: 10.3390/rs61111579.
[15] HERON, S. F.; MAYNARD, J. A.; VAN HOOIDONK, R.; EAKIN, C. M. Warming Trends and Bleaching Stress of the World's Coral Reefs 1985–2012. Scientific Reports, v. 6, p. 38402, 2016. DOI: 10.1038/srep38402.
[16] LIU, G. et al. Overview of NOAA Coral Reef Watch program's near-real time satellite global coral bleaching monitoring activities. In: INTERNATIONAL CORAL REEF SYMPOSIUM, 10., 2004, Okinawa. Proceedings […]. Okinawa: ICRS, 2004. p. 1793.
[17] DESTÉFANI; ALVES OLIVEIRA, B.; EIRAS GARCIA, C. A. Monitoring marine heatwaves in Salvador-BA using SiMCosta data. Ocean and Coastal Research, v. 73, 2025. DOI: 10.1590/2675-2824073.23042.
[18] SKIRVING, W. et al. CoralTemp and the Coral Reef Watch Coral Bleaching Heat Stress Product Suite Version 3.1. Remote Sensing, v. 12, n. 23, 2020. DOI: 10.3390/rs12233856.
[19] SKIRVING, W.; MARSH, B.; DE LA COUR, J.; LIU, G.; HARRIS, A.; MATURI, E.; GEIGER, E.; EAKIN, C. M. CoralTemp and the Coral Reef Watch Coral Bleaching Heat Stress Product Suite Version 3.1. Remote Sensing, v. 12, n. 23, Article 3856, 2020. DOI: 10.3390/rs12233856.
[20] LEÃO, Z. M. A. N.; KIKUCHI, R. K. P.; OLIVEIRA, M. D. M. The coral reef province of Brazil. In: World Seas: An Environmental Evaluation. Academic Press, 2019. p. 813–833.
[21] PROJETO Coral Vivo divulga balanço anual de monitoramento e alerta: ondas de calor ameaçam a vida marinha e a economia. Coral Vivo, [Arraial d'Ajuda], [s.d.]. Available at: https://coralvivo.org.br/noticia/projeto-coral-vivo-divulga-balanco-anual-de-monitoramento-e-alerta-ondas-de-calor-ameacam-a-vida-marinha-e-a-economia/
[2] LOUGH, J. M.; VAN OPPEN, M. J. H. Introduction: Coral Bleaching—Patterns, Processes, Causes and Consequences. In: VAN OPPEN, M. J. H.; LOUGH, J. M. (ed.). Coral Bleaching: Patterns, Processes, Causes and Consequences. 2nd ed. Cham: Springer, 2018. (Ecological Studies, v. 233). p. 1–8.
[3] BOONNAM, N. et al. Coral Reef Bleaching under Climate Change: Prediction Modeling and Machine Learning. Sustainability, v. 14, n. 10, p. 6161, 2022. DOI: 10.3390/su14106161. Available at: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/10/6161.
[4] CORNET, V. J. et al. Enhancing coral bleaching predictive tools through integrating sensitivity to heat exposure. Biological Conservation, v. 302, p. 110958, 2025. DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2024.110958. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S000632072400361X.
[5] QIN, B.; YU, K.; ZUO, X. Study of the bleaching alert capability of the CRW and CoRTAD coral bleaching heat stress products in China's coral reefs. Marine Environmental Research, v. 186, p. 105939, 2023. DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.105939. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0141113623000941.
[6] MULLER-PARKER, G.; D'ELIA, C. F.; COOK, C. B. Interactions Between Corals and Their Symbiotic Algae. In: BIRKELAND, C. (ed.). Coral Reefs in the Anthropocene. Dordrecht: Springer, 2015. p. 91–112. DOI: 10.1007/978-94-017-7249-5_5.
[7] DOUGLAS, A. E. Coral bleaching—how and why? Marine Pollution Bulletin, v. 46, n. 4, p. 385–392, 2003. DOI: 10.1016/S0025-326X(03)00037-7. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X03000377.
[8] PANJA, A. K.; JAISWAL, S.; HALDAR, S. Time series (2003–15) analysis of selected physicochemical parameters in Indian Ocean: Cumulative impacts prediction on coral bleaching using machine learning. Science of the Total Environment, v. 933, p. 173002, 2024. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173002. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004896972403245X.
[9] INNIS, T. et al. Marine heatwaves depress metabolic activity and impair cellular acid-base homeostasis in reef-building corals regardless of bleaching susceptibility. Global Change Biology, v. 27, n. 12, p. 2728–2743, 2021. DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15622. Available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/gcb.15622.
[10] KEIGHAN, R. et al. Moderate chlorophyll-a environments reduce coral bleaching during thermal stress in Yap, Micronesia. Scientific Reports, v. 13, p. 9338, 2023. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-36104-5. Available at: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-36104-5.
[11] SCHOEPF, V. et al. Impacts of coral bleaching on pH and oxygen gradients across the coral concentration boundary layer: a microsensor study. Coral Reefs, v. 37, p. 1169–1180, 2018. DOI: 10.1007/s00338-018-01743-y. Available at: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00338-018-01743-y.
[12] MASON, R. A. B.; BOZEC, Y. M.; MUMBY, P. J. Coral bleaching and mortality overestimated in projections based on Degree Heating Months. Nature Geoscience, v. 18, p. 120–123, 2025. DOI: 10.1038/s41561-024-01582-3. Available at: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-024-01582-3.
[13] WARNER, M. E.; FITT, W. K.; SCHMIDT, G. W. Damage to photosystem II in symbiotic dinoflagellates: A determinant of coral bleaching. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, v. 96, n. 14, p. 8007–8012, 1999. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.96.14.8007. Available at: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.96.14.8007.
[14] LIU, G. et al. Reef-Scale Thermal Stress Monitoring of Coral Ecosystems: New 5-km Global Products from NOAA Coral Reef Watch. Remote Sensing, v. 6, n. 11, p. 11579–11606, 2014. DOI: 10.3390/rs61111579.
[15] HERON, S. F.; MAYNARD, J. A.; VAN HOOIDONK, R.; EAKIN, C. M. Warming Trends and Bleaching Stress of the World's Coral Reefs 1985–2012. Scientific Reports, v. 6, p. 38402, 2016. DOI: 10.1038/srep38402.
[16] LIU, G. et al. Overview of NOAA Coral Reef Watch program's near-real time satellite global coral bleaching monitoring activities. In: INTERNATIONAL CORAL REEF SYMPOSIUM, 10., 2004, Okinawa. Proceedings […]. Okinawa: ICRS, 2004. p. 1793.
[17] DESTÉFANI; ALVES OLIVEIRA, B.; EIRAS GARCIA, C. A. Monitoring marine heatwaves in Salvador-BA using SiMCosta data. Ocean and Coastal Research, v. 73, 2025. DOI: 10.1590/2675-2824073.23042.
[18] SKIRVING, W. et al. CoralTemp and the Coral Reef Watch Coral Bleaching Heat Stress Product Suite Version 3.1. Remote Sensing, v. 12, n. 23, 2020. DOI: 10.3390/rs12233856.
[19] SKIRVING, W.; MARSH, B.; DE LA COUR, J.; LIU, G.; HARRIS, A.; MATURI, E.; GEIGER, E.; EAKIN, C. M. CoralTemp and the Coral Reef Watch Coral Bleaching Heat Stress Product Suite Version 3.1. Remote Sensing, v. 12, n. 23, Article 3856, 2020. DOI: 10.3390/rs12233856.
[20] LEÃO, Z. M. A. N.; KIKUCHI, R. K. P.; OLIVEIRA, M. D. M. The coral reef province of Brazil. In: World Seas: An Environmental Evaluation. Academic Press, 2019. p. 813–833.
[21] PROJETO Coral Vivo divulga balanço anual de monitoramento e alerta: ondas de calor ameaçam a vida marinha e a economia. Coral Vivo, [Arraial d'Ajuda], [s.d.]. Available at: https://coralvivo.org.br/noticia/projeto-coral-vivo-divulga-balanco-anual-de-monitoramento-e-alerta-ondas-de-calor-ameacam-a-vida-marinha-e-a-economia/