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National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service
The National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service (NESDIS) manages and processes data and images produced by its satellites on a daily basis. NESDIS also manages global databases of information on meteorology, oceanography, earth geophysics and solar terrestrial sciences. From this information, NESDIS develops and provides environmental data and information products and services.
NESDIS is active in coral reef mapping and monitoring, research, data management and distribution, and technology sharing. In March 2000, NESDIS formed a coral reef team to consolidate all of NESDIS’ coral reef activities under one focused program guided by the objectives of the Coral Reef Task Force’s National Action Plan to Conserve Coral Reefs.
Data Management
Paleoclimatology, Monitoring and Mapping
Near Real-time Satellite Monitoring
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NESDIS monitoring networks and programs can detect when bleaching events are occurring, or when conditions are right for bleaching to occur.
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Data Management
Scientists at the National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC) process and archive results from monitoring and research programs. Currently, they are developing a coral reef data and information management service (CRDIMS). The system will integrate biological data collected from reef monitoring and research programs with chemical, biological and physical data of the surrounding marine areas.
The coral reef data include descriptions of coral reef taxa and community structure and dynamics, and measurements of their occurrences, numbers, life stages, pathology and productivity. Data from associated habitats like seagrass beds and mangrove forests, also are archived. The CRDIMS will coordinate this data with nonbiological measurements, such as sea water chemistry, turbidity, temperature, salinity, currents, bio-optical data and substratum features. The data will be a combination of in situ measurements, information from laboratory studies, remote-sensed data, and digital videotapes and photographs.
Using the CRDIMS, NODC anticipates a streamlined approach to archiving and curating historical and newly acquired data that will be readily available to national and international partners, reef managers, scientists and the public via the Internet. Its current online format is basic, allowing additional components to be incorporated when needed and as data is added. The site also includes links to other coral reef data sites, which provide users with international access to coral information.
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Paleoclimatologists use a hydraulic drill to take a core sample of a coral. The sample is taken from the coral’s plane of maximum growth, revealing growth patterns and age of the coral.
(Maris Kazmers)
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Paleoclimatology, Monitoring and Mapping
Scientists at NESDIS’ National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC) concentrate their coral reef efforts on paleoclimatology and coral reef mapping and monitoring. NGDC’s paleoclimatology program archives and distributes data from corals that provide evidence of past climates and environments that can help scientists reconstruct past temperatures. Its mapping and monitoring efforts include collecting and processing aerial photographic, high resolution satellite and hyperspectral data, which are used to determine reef composition, health and condition. NGDC also coordinates some of its research efforts with NOAA’s National Ocean Service to conduct remote sensing operations of coral reefs, particularly in the Caribbean and the Hawaiian Islands.
Near Real-time Satellite Monitoring
Using satellites to measure sea surface temperatures (SSTs), Coral Reef Watch (CRW) efforts at NESDIS’ Office of Research and Applications (ORA) focus on detecting and assessing environmental conditions that are likely responsible for coral bleaching. CRW, currently a collaborative effort between NESDIS/ORA and NOAA's Atlantic Oceanographic and Meterological Laboratory, is working with the U.S. Geological Survey and international collaborators to establish both domestic and international integrated satellite and in situ near real-time monitoring networks. CRW also is assessing and integrating coral reef activities within NESDIS and between NESDIS and other NOAA offices.
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This CRW’s satellite Degree Heating Weeks chart shows the accumulated thermal stress that contributed to much of the coral bleaching during the early 1998, which was a strong El Niño year.
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Products developed from NOAA's Polar Orbiting Environmental Satellite data include tropical bleaching indices and SST time series that provide information for coral reef monitoring and health assessment for reef managers and researchers within NOAA, in the U.S. and internationally. New products under development by CRW will consider additional environmental parameters, such as sea surface wind, tide cycle, ocean color and photosynthetically active radiation.
In addition to its ongoing coral reef mapping and monitoring activities, NESDIS plans to study one or two regionally-focused coral reef projects to determine how NOAA’s line offices can converge their efforts for future activities. Finally, the agency is working to coordinate international, federal, state and local coral reef research efforts, the results of which will be made publicly available on the Internet.
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