This site explains why coral reefs are important, and discusses their sensitivity to environmental change. Rising sea temperatures and other causes of coral bleaching are described, as well as the rate of coral bleaching. The text considers whether corals can survive bleaching and what can be done to protect them. Besides the main text, this site contains links to a short glossary, a list of related ... Full description.

This scene shows the southwestern corner of the island of Puerto Rico as seen by the three Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) visible light sensors. The detectors have a limited ability to see through shallow water, detecting the coral reefs and shallow sand areas around the edge of the island. Full description.

Coral forms off shore from volcanic islands in tropical latitudes, developing a barrier reef thats separated by a growing lagoon.But over time, while the surrounding ocean wears away the main body of the island, the coral ring remains. Full description.

Detailed images of reefs from nearly 900 locations around the world have been collected in the first year of the Landsat 7 mission. Full description.

One year, 900 locations, thousands of coral reefs. Thats the tally of NASAs Landsat 7 satellite as it continues to deliver cutting edge images and information about the Earth. Full description.

The U.S. Coral Reef Task Force was established to lead the U.S. response to the growing global environmental crisis facing our coral reefs. This site contains information on what coral reefs are, where they can be found, how to protect them, and what the threats are. Reports on Task Force accomplishments and documents about national action plans and other information on the Task Force and their meetings ... Full description.

In the shallow waters off the coast of Andros Island in the Caribbean, corals of all shapes and sizes form the Andros Reef, one of the largest barrier reefs in the world. Like other coral reefs, Andros was created by massive colonies of coral polyps, which are small, soft-bodied animals. These creatures have hard skeletons that form much of the structure of a coral reef. The once thriving Andros Reef ... Full description.

This data tip from Bridge, the Ocean Sciences Education Teacher Resource Center archive, focuses on learning about environmental stress, which threatens coral reefs globally. The data activity provides maps and information about reefs throughout the world and presents questions about human and natural threats to reefs. Students are given access to information from a research trip to Belize in Central ... Full description.

Provides services and information for coral reef researchers and the public. Site FAQs cover technical background on coral reef biology, ecology, biodiversity, and coral diseases. Other resources: coral literature listings; classroom modules; coral cam on a Caribbean reef. Coral list serve allows discussion between researchers and others interested in coral reefs. Links to Coral Reef Early Warning ... Full description.

In this unit, students examine published data that address the causes of coral and seagrass decline in Florida. The activities engage students in data analysis and hypothesis-testing and will increase their understanding of the complexities of ecological phenomena. The figure sets use data on coral diversity, nitrogen limitation in the ocean, photosynthetic/respiratory balance in corals, loss of seagrasses ... Full description.