Planetary Coral Reef Research

(Photo by Gonzalo Arcila)

Given the fact that coral reefs are threatened and endangered on a planetary scale, the Planetary Coral Reef Foundation was formed in 1991 to address the global demise of coral reefs. The aim of the Foundation is (1) to monitor the health of coral reefs worldwide, (2) to develop the technique of monitoring coral reefs using satellite imagery, and (3)  to provide the technology for restoration of coral reef ecosystems where and when possible.

Under the direction of Dr. Phil Dustan (coral reef ecologist at the College of Charleston) and with the participation of scientists at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, NASA/AMES, and The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Planetary Coral Reef Foundation is launching a ten year program (2000 - 2010) to establish a means to study coral reefs, using, for the first time, satellite imagery. Coral reef sites from around the world will be studied by a ground support field research team, and compared with simultaneous images taken by satellites.

Scientists and Advisors

Dr. Sylvia Earle
Scientific Advisor

Dr. Sylvia Earle (Ph.D. from Duke University), an internationally acknowledged expert in ocean research and engineering, served as Scientific Chief at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA) from 1990 - 1992. She is now the Founder and Director of Deep Ocean Engineering, Inc., President of Deep Ocean Exploration and Research, Inc. and has diving experience worldwide spending more than 6,000 hours underwater. Dr. Earle has led 50 expeditions and holds the depth record for solo deep diving at 3,000 ft. She has authored more than 100 scientific, technical, and popular publications, including Sea Change, and has received numerous awards and honors including th 1996 Explorers Medal.

Coral Reef Satellite Imagery Project

Expedition Chief of the RV Heraclitus 1995-2000 Expedition, Christine Handte, taking a video survey of coral reefs in Oman for the satellite mapping and health and vitality studies of coral reefs. (Photo by Michel Lippitsch.)

Paul Coleman
Satellite Design and Launch
Paul J. Coleman, Jr., graduated from the University of Michigan in 1954. He received the M.S. degree in Physics from Michigan in 1958. Following a tour of duty at NASA headquarters as head of the interplanetary sciences program, he joined the research staff of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He received his Ph.D. in space Physics from UCLA in 1966. He has twice received the NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal. Now professor emeritus at UCLA, he is director of the National Institute for Global Environmental Change at the University of California, Davis and President of the Universities Space Research Association since 1981.

Dr. Phil Dustan
Coral Reef Mapping and Health and Vitality Studies
Dr. Phil Dustan (Ph.D. from the State University of New York at Stony Brook), one of the world's leading authorities on coral reef health and vitality, is from the College of Charleston, South Carolina. He has had extensive research experience in the Florida Cayes, Belize, Mexico, Seychelles, Amazon River, California, Jamaica, Indian Ocean, and the Antarctic working with NASA, Captain Cousteau, Scripps Institution, University of California, the Harbor Branch Foundation and the Smithsonian Institution. Dr. Dustan's research now focuses on remote sensing and photoecology of the health and vitality of coral reefs.

Dr. Farouk El-Baz
Remote Sensing
Dr. Farouk El-Baz (Ph.D. from University of Missouri) is a Research Professor and Director of the Center for Remote Sensing at Boston University. He participated in the Apollo program from 1967 to 1972 as Supervisor of Lunar Science Planning. Beginning in 1973 to 1983 he established and directed the Center for Earth and Planetary Studies at the National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution. From 1982 to 1986 he was Vice President of International Development and for Science and Technology at Itek Optical Systems of Lexington, MA. He is known for pioneering work in the applications of space photography to the understanding of arid terrain, particularly the location of ground water resources. Dr. El-Baz is President of the Arab Society of Desert Research and the recipient of numerous honors and awards including: NASA's Apollo Achievement Award, Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal and Special Recognition Award, Outstannding Acheivement Award of the Egyptian American Organization in 1989 and the Award for Outstanding Contributions to Science and Space Technology of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee in 1995.

Dr. Robert Goeke
Chief Engineer, MIT Center for Space Research

Dr. Judy Lang
Coral Biologist
Consultant of the Coral Reef Satellite Imagery Project Dr. Judy Lang (Ph.D. from Yale University) is a coral reef biologist at the Texas Memorial Museum. Her field experience includes coral reef research in the Bahamas, Colombia, Jamaica, Belize, and Florida. She has worked with the University of Texas, Smithsonian, and Discovery Bay Laboratory, and received support from NOAA/NURP, US Fish and Wildlife, NSF, Project QUEST, National Geographic Society. Dr. Lang will be addressing the biology and ecology of coral colonies studied during this five year expedition.

Dr. Dan Lubin
Associate Research Physicist
Scripps Institution of Oceanography

Dr. Knut Henrik Stamnes
Professor
Stevens Institute of Technology

Coral Reef Coring Program for Global Climatology Studies

Captain Claus Tober and First Mate Eudy Perozo of the research vessel Heraclitus 1995-2000 Expedition, coring a Porites spp. coral off the coast of Oman for Dr. Richard Fairbank's global climatology studies. (Photo by Gonzalo Arcila)

In support of Lamont-Doherty's coral reef monitoring and coring program, the largest in the world, the RV Heraclitus crew collected cores of large coral heads at sites visited in the Red Sea, Indian Ocean and South East Asia Seas during the years of 1996 - 2000.. These cores are available for analysis.  The program was headed up by Richard Fairbanks (Columbia University, New York) and Chris Charles (Scripps Institution of Oceanography) as part of a long-term research program to understand the natural variability of the ENSO and Monsoon climate systems, the thermal stability of the oceans "warm pools", the hydrologic cycle, and to further knowledge about the role of coral reefs in regulating the atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations.

Dr. Richard Fairbanks
Coral Reef Coring Program for Global Climatology Studies
Dr. Richard Fairbanks (Ph.D. Brown University) is a Professor in the Department of Earth Sciences at Columbia University and a member of the Executive Committee at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. As well he is on the Board of Reviewing Editors for Science and Associate Editor for Paleoceanography. Dr. Fairbanks was a National Science Foundation Fellow, and received Fellowships from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, Lamont-Doherty -Geological Observatory, and an ARCO Foundation Fellowship. Dr. Fairbanks research focuses on the role of oceans in global climate change.

Dr. Chris Charles
Coral Reef Coring Program for Global Climatology Studies
Dr. Chris Charles ( Ph.D. from Columbia University) is an Assitant Professor at the University of California , San Diego in the Geological Research Division. He was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Goddard Institute for Space Studies and has been engaged with field research in water analysis and coral reef drilling and mapping since 1988. He is presently the Co-P.I. and member of the RV Thomas Thompson scientific party with David Hodell and is working with Dr. Richard Fairbanks in the analysis of the coral reef cores collected by the Planetary Coral Reef Foundation for global climatology studies.