The structure and extent of coral reefs can now, for the first time, be monitored globally, thanks to new observations from NASAs Landsat 7 spacecraft. 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.

In this lesson, students examine the rich array of marine wildlife that lives in waters surrounding the Indian subcontinent, explore the relationships among organisms in coral reefs, and learn about environmental dangers to coral reefs and research methods to protect them. Students will use the Internet to conduct research about scientific discoveries and environmental protection activities, discuss ... Full description.

This Discovery Channel feature is a live expedition with the American Museum of Natural History. Marine biologists studying the barrier reefs in the Bahamas provide information on scavenger sea worms, brain coral, shell-less nudibranches, sea turtles and sharks, and many other ocean creatures. The scientists also track the various species of the reef using NASA images from space. Photographs and descriptions ... Full description.

Corals feed on algae that thrive in the sunlit water surrounding a reef. However, when water temperatures get too warm, the algae food source dies and corals turn a whitish color. Through scientific observation, it has been determined that coral bleaching may occur when sea surface temperature (SST) exceeds 30C or 86F for a week or longer. During late 2005, a major coral bleaching event occurred when ... Full description.

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority's resource and activity center for teachers and students. Find teaching units for K-12 on: coral reef habitats and marine life; human dependence and impacts on the reef; biodiversity and threatened species; coastal zone and reef management. Lesson plans offer objectives, inquiry learning focus activities, resources, class or field activities. Student pages ... Full description.

Students learn about the causes of coral reef destruction by assuming various character roles in this marine murder-mystery. As they determine who killed Seymour Coral, students learn the basics of DNA testing. Suspects include global warming, sedimentation, and other threats facing coral reefs today. This activity is designed for 15 students, but can be modified for 12–24 students. A narrated PowerPoint ... Full description.

This webpage of the National Park Service (NPS) and United States Geological Survey (USGS) discusses the environments of coastlines - the narrow strips of land where national parks meet the sea. It covers the formation of waves and beaches, as well as how beaches move through longshore drift. Also included are plans for paper models of island coral reefs, which include shield volcanoes, fringing reefs, ... Full description.

In this lesson, students will investigate the importance of coral reefs to the Earth as a whole and learn some possible explanations for the phenomenon known as "coral bleaching". They should be able to identify ways that coral reefs benefit human beings, identify major threats to reefs and discuss how they might be reduced or eliminated, describe the Coral Reef Early Warning System, and discuss why ... Full description.

This National Park Service (NPS) website discusses the geology of Virgin Islands National Park, examining the coral reefs that line this park, forests of the island, and the history of the area. There are maps and photos, and links to visitor information and additional resources. Full description.

Built on a research project at the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, CoralWatch has developed a cheap, simple, non-invasive method for the monitoring of coral bleaching, and assessment of coral health. In the field, users simply use the Coral Health Chart to compare colors of corals with colors on the chart and record matching codes. Students submit their data and can view data from reefs ... Full description.