So, picture this: you’ve just arrived at your dream tropical destination, ready to explore the crystal-clear waters and the vibrant underwater world. As you strap on your snorkeling gear and dive into the ocean, you’re immediately transported into a magical world of colors and shapes. The water is warm, the sun is shining, and the… Continue Reading →
Can coral restoration save coral reefs? That’s a question we at CORAL have been asked time and time again. It’s a good question—but it’s also a complex one. The answer may not be what you think. The Risks with Growing and Planting Corals In many scientific communities, “coral restoration” refers to the act of growing… Continue Reading →
Forty underwater temperature loggers now sit underwater on coral reefs across the Bay Islands in Honduras. Their purpose? To identify the temperature range that corals can withstand and typically experience within a year. These ONSET TidBits, as they’re known, measure water temperatures every minute and store the data internally. Every four to five months, a… Continue Reading →
By: Ben Charo, Conservation Science Program Coordinator If we don’t curb greenhouse gas emissions and slow the warming of our oceans, 99% of the world’s coral reefs are predicted to be gone by the end of this century. Indeed, reefs are already in serious decline. So it might surprise you to hear that within the… Continue Reading →
Another widespread bleaching event has begun, and all eyes are focused on the Great Barrier Reef. This is the sixth mass bleaching event impacting Australia’s famous reefs and is driven largely by the planet’s rising ocean temperatures. In recent weeks, field scientists and marine park authorities have reported signs of minor to severe bleaching on… Continue Reading →
Could a map be used to estimate the likelihood that a coral reef can adapt to climate change? That’s one of the biggest questions driving our Global Conservation Science team these days. In collaboration with the Allen Coral Atlas (the Atlas), a global map and monitoring system for shallow water coral reefs, we are leading… Continue Reading →
It’s October, a time when eerie legends come alive and the world’s most frightening monsters are out to play. But among the goblins, ghosts, and creepy clowns, here at CORAL, there’s a different type of beast that truly spooks us—climate change. Sure, climate change doesn’t look like a typical monster. It doesn’t have fangs like… Continue Reading →
On September 8, 2021, it was officially announced that a comprehensive map and monitoring system of the world’s shallow water coral reefs, the Allen Coral Atlas, was completed. This tremendous effort was led by Arizona State University in collaboration with scientists, universities, private entities, and NGOs across the globe—including the Coral Reef Alliance. The tool… Continue Reading →
In a lot of ways, corals are like trees—they stay rooted in one spot their whole lives, and they disperse their young into the environment. With many trees, their young typically fall to the ground and stay relatively close. But with corals, their young are moved by ocean currents that can carry them thousands of… Continue Reading →