Automated Health Assessment of Coral Reefs
 Executive
Order 13089 "Protection of Coral Reefs" issued June 11, 1998
directs Federal agencies, including the Department of Defense,
to study, restore, and conserve U.S. coral reefs. Specifically,
E.O. 13089 directs
Federal agencies whose actions may affect U.S. coral reef ecosystems,
to take the following steps: (1) identify actions that may
affect U.S. coral reef ecosystems; (2) utilize programs and authorities
to protect
and enhance
the conditions of such ecosystems; and (3) to the extent permitted
by law, ensure that any actions they authorize, fund, or carry
out will not degrade
the conditions of such ecosystems.
This project is focused on monitoring for mitigation and/or
compliance purposes for Navy operations and construction
projects at bases in tropical waters that may have an impact
on nearby
coral reefs. Coral reef assets exist at naval bases in the
Florida Keys, Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Hawaiian Islands, U.
S. Virgin Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, American
Samoa,
Diego Garcia, and several Pacific atolls. The ability to
conduct improved monitoring and mitigation capability needs
to be developed
to avoid environmental compliance and operational problems.
The project utilizes solar-powered radiometers to measure
in-situ water column sediment load, phytoplankton biomass,
and natural
zooxanthellae fluorescence and telemeter the data ashore,
utilizing an integrated system consisting primarily of
a combination
of commercial, off-the-shelf instruments, to provide a
real time alarm system warning of suspended sediment conditions
which might threaten coral health. A surface and water
column
mounted set of light sensors, comparing incident solar
radiation at the top of the water with that above the coral
bed near
the face of the coral reef, can determine attenuation of
the full photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) band
available to symbiotic zooxanthellae living within the coral
tissue.
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One of the radiometers of the prototype
CRMS deployed on a coral
reef in Sasa Bay, Guam. |
The research and development team, composed of individuals from SSC
Pacific, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Engineering
Service Center (NAVFAC ESC), and NAVFAC ESC Scientific Diving Services,
deployed a prototype Coral Reef Monitoring System (CRMS)
on a coral reef located near Polaris Point on Sasa Bay, Guam.
The system consists of a set of light sensors with one mounted
slightly below the water’s
surface and the other slightly above the coral reef, comparing
the level of incident solar radiation at the surface of the
water with that reaching the coral reef.
The difference in the photosynthetically active radiation readings indicate
suspended sediment or plankton in the water when compared to
clear water data. Readings are telemetered directly via satellite link
to shore from a radio located on the surface float. An additional sensor
collects information on the health of the coral by collecting the naturally
occurring fluorescent response of the symbiont algae to the sunlight reaching
the coral. The objective is to provide a remote sensing capability to monitor
potential sedimentation on coral reefs and the health of the coral organisms
before, during and after any potential impact resulting from man-made or
natural occurrences.
Applications:
- Natural resource management
- Engineering design resource
Partners:
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