Identifying an Evaporative Thermal Refugium for the Preservation of Coral Reefs in a Warming World—The Gulf of Eilat (Aqaba)

Abstract Coral bleaching events are more frequent and severe as global temperatures rise. However, analysis of the surface energy fluxes that substantially affect thermoregulation shallow reef environments is rare. Previous work on evaporative cooling in a humid environment led to hypothesis proximity desert regions, drier air enhances water overlying coral reefs, reducing risk extreme high‐water temperatures. Eddy Covariance measurements made over fringing Gulf Eilat (Israel) during summer measured evaporation 10.3 mm d −1 which maintaining temperature much lower than temperature. In addition, most marine heatwave was ever documented region presented case study for future reference processes lead proceed heatwave, induced by synoptic scale cause ∼50% reduction rate. Results compared similar from tropical reef, where rate suppressed higher humidity unable offset heating reef. We conclude key mechanism protecting reefs located deserts temperatures, thereby representing possible thermal refugium corals against background warming.