NASA Learning To Monitor Coral Reef Health From The Sky

ReefLady · 12-12-2003, 02:07 PM

December 8, 2003

NASA Learning To Monitor Coral Reef Health From The Sky

"Coral reef health may be accurately estimated from sensors on airplanes and satellites in the future, according to a NASA scientist who is the principal investigator in a collaborative project to develop a method to remotely sense coral health.

Sometimes called the “bellwether of the seas,” coral reefs can give first indications of marine ecosystem health. “Scientists can use coral health as a sensitive indicator of the health of the marine environment,” said Liane Guild, a scientist at NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.

“We’re looking into how you could remotely detect coral reef health using aircraft with visible light sensors,” Guild said. “First, we have to look at the coral close up, underwater, to see what spectral reflectance the sensor picks up from diseased, stressed and healthy coral.”

One of the first steps her team took to develop aerial coral monitoring was to take undersea light-reflectance readings of elkhorn coral with a handheld spectroradiometer, or light meter. A team of four scuba divers, from the Universities of Miami, South Florida and Puerto Rico, helped Guild take the first readings at varying depths in summer 2002 near Andros Island, Bahamas, with assistance from the U.S. Navy Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center. A spectroradiometer measures the amount of ultraviolet, visible and infrared light reflected from an object, and is similar to sensors aboard remote-sensing airplanes and satellites. "

>>Full Article Here<<

Craig Manoukian · 12-12-2003, 03:14 PM

Pretty cool technology. I wonder if the fuel burned for the aerial syrvey add to the green house effect? Oh life is so complicated, eh?

JaxReef · 11-27-2006, 03:26 PM

maybe I can have them monitor my reef while they are at it?

boozeman · 11-28-2006, 01:24 PM

thanks reeflady

12-12-2003, 02:07 PM	#1 (permalink)
ReefLady Tridacna maxima Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 4,590 View Gallery Karma Komment	NASA Learning To Monitor Coral Reef Health From The Sky December 8, 2003 NASA Learning To Monitor Coral Reef Health From The Sky "Coral reef health may be accurately estimated from sensors on airplanes and satellites in the future, according to a NASA scientist who is the principal investigator in a collaborative project to develop a method to remotely sense coral health. Sometimes called the “bellwether of the seas,” coral reefs can give first indications of marine ecosystem health. “Scientists can use coral health as a sensitive indicator of the health of the marine environment,” said Liane Guild, a scientist at NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. “We’re looking into how you could remotely detect coral reef health using aircraft with visible light sensors,” Guild said. “First, we have to look at the coral close up, underwater, to see what spectral reflectance the sensor picks up from diseased, stressed and healthy coral.” One of the first steps her team took to develop aerial coral monitoring was to take undersea light-reflectance readings of elkhorn coral with a handheld spectroradiometer, or light meter. A team of four scuba divers, from the Universities of Miami, South Florida and Puerto Rico, helped Guild take the first readings at varying depths in summer 2002 near Andros Island, Bahamas, with assistance from the U.S. Navy Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center. A spectroradiometer measures the amount of ultraviolet, visible and infrared light reflected from an object, and is similar to sensors aboard remote-sensing airplanes and satellites. " >>Full Article Here<< __________________ ~ Teri -------- "You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice." ~(currently tankless)~ Our 180g sps tank / DIY adventure (taken down in late 2006): Our 180g DIY Reef Project ---What's next????

12-12-2003, 03:14 PM	#2 (permalink)
Craig Manoukian Regular Guy Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Marina Del Ray, CA Posts: 19,012 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Pretty cool technology. I wonder if the fuel burned for the aerial syrvey add to the green house effect? Oh life is so complicated, eh? __________________ Currently tankless. 20 Gallon mini reef with mated pair of Maroon Clowns given to Rougiem! 80 gallon reef given to Rougiem/Wooster HS.

11-27-2006, 03:26 PM	#3 (permalink)
JaxReef Pistol Shrimp Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 249 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: NASA Learning To Monitor Coral Reef Health From The Sky maybe I can have them monitor my reef while they are at it?

11-28-2006, 01:24 PM	#4 (permalink)
boozeman The CodFather ~ Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: new york Posts: 8,802 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: NASA Learning To Monitor Coral Reef Health From The Sky thanks reeflady __________________ ...and when I'm old and wise little things mean little to me like autumn winds they'll blow right through me and someday, in the mist of time when they ask you if you knew me remember that you were a friend of mine

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)