Abstract

A sea water temperature of 29°C is the commonly accepted tolerance limit for most coral species in the Caribbean region. In Guadeloupe Island, this limit was exceeded at the end of June 2023 in the open sea and shallow confined areas at the beginning of May. The maximum values were reached at the end of September, with 31°C in open sea environment and 32.4°C in shallow confined areas. Temperatures below 29°C reappeared at the beginning of December 2023. Temperatures above 29 °C lasted about 150 days in the open sea and up to 200 days in confined areas. This phenomenon has led to a severe bleaching of the corals of Guadeloupe. During the coolest month of 2024 (February), the temperature did not drop below 27.3°C in the open sea and still reached 28.8°C in shallow lagoons. The temperature again exceeded 29°C from May to December 2024, depending on the site. This corresponds to approximately the same period as in 2023. The maximum temperatures reached were similar to those of 2023. However, in December 2024, the water temperatures were still above 29°C.

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