Mapping and Information Working Group
Introduction
Current, accurate, and consistent maps greatly enhance efforts to preserve and manage coral reef ecosystems. With comprehensive maps and habitat assessments, coral reef managers can be more effective in designing and implementing a variety of conservation measures, including:
- Long-term monitoring programs with accurate baselines from which to track changes;
- Place-based conservation measures such as marine protected areas (MPAs); and
- Targeted research to better understand the oceanographic and ecological processes affecting coral reef ecosystem health.
The U.S. Coral Reef Task Force (USCRTF) has committed to produce comprehensive digital maps of all U.S. shallow-water (less than 30 meters) coral reef habitats, and to characterize priority moderate-depth (30-200 meters) reef systems. Coral reef mapping efforts are coordinated through the USCRTF Mapping and Information Synthesis Working Group, composed of representatives from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), other Federal and State agencies, and academic and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs).
The working group defines mapping as the process of identifying and delineating sea-floor features in georeferenced, remotely sensed imagery and assessing the thematic accuracy of the resulting map. An accurate georeferenced map is critical when characterizing the health of benthic (e.g., coral) communities, and monitoring to detect and measure changes over time. It is important to recognize that "mapping" may include many activities, including delineating shoreline, surveying to obtain high-resolution bathymetry, defining habitat classification systems, and producing digital habitat maps.
Current Activities
In year, the State of Florida and NOAA begun mapping approximately 13,000 sq km of southern Florida's coral ecosystems. As much as 84 percent of all potential U.S. coral ecosystems may occur in Florida coastal waters. Mapping 13,000 sq km of southern Florida's coral ecosystems is being funded by the State of Florida and NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program. To learn more about the project, visit: http://ccma.nos.noaa.gov/ecosystems/coralreef/fl_mapping.html
The State of Hawaii, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and NOAA developed a comprehensive biogeographic assessment of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) for the Papaha-naumokua-kea Marine National Monument. A draft map of the coral ecosystems of the NWHI was completed in 2003. To learn more about the project, visit: http://ccma.nos.noaa.gov/ecosystems/sanctuaries/nwhi.html
Documents
Status of Coral Reef Ecosystem Mapping Activities during FY02/FY03
Mapping Implementation Plan
Benthic Habitats of the Florida Keys - Final Product
Benthic Habitats of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands - Final Product Web version of CD product and instructions for obtaining/creating a copy of the CD
Methods Used to Map the Benthic Habitats of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands
Classification Scheme for Benthic Habitats: Eight Main Hawaiian Islands
Classification Scheme for Benthic Habitats: Northwest Hawaiian Islands - DRAFT
Classification Scheme for Benthic Habitats: U.S. Pacific Territories - DRAFT
Hawaii Digital Elevation Models
http://biogeo.nos.noaa.gov/products/mapping/dems/
Aerial Photography -
http://biogeo.nos.noaa.gov/products/data/photos/
Puerto Rico & USVI –
http://biogeo.nos.noaa.gov/products/data/photos/usvi.shtml
Hawaii - http://biogeo.nos.noaa.gov/products/data/photos/hawaii.shtml
Browsable web interface for downloading imagery used in mapping
process
Pacific Mapping web link
http://biogeo.nos.noaa.gov/projects/mapping/pacific/
Eight Main Hawaiian Islands Benthic Habitat Mapping Project
http://biogeo.nos.noaa.gov/projects/mapping/pacific/main8/
Northwest Hawaiian Islands Benthic Habitat Mapping Project
http://biogeo.nos.noaa.gov/projects/mapping/pacific/nwhi/
U.S. Pacific Territories Benthic Habitat Mapping Project http://biogeo.nos.noaa.gov/projects/mapping/pacific/territories/