The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has, since 2005, been working with Florida state government, university, other nongovernmental, and other U.S. federal government agencies to complete a map of the southern Florida shallow-water coral ecosystem. Please visit the web site to learn more about the project http://ccma.nos.noaa.gov/ecosystems/coralreef/fl_mapping.html

The coral ecosystem is being characterized, for the most part, using high-resolution satellite imagery. The procedures for both generating the coral ecosystem map and assessing the accuracy of that map include collecting georeferenced, digital underwater video clips and still images at hundreds of locations throughout the Florida Keys. To date, 3,224 underwater still images and videos clips have been collected at 2,544 locations between Long Key and Marquesas Key. It is now possible to view these video clips and still images and download them to your computer using Google Earth or Google Maps. Please use the links provided at the bottom of the web site. Over the next 18-24 months, as many as 2,000 more locations will be visited as part of the mapping effort. These field data also will be provided using Google Earth or Google Maps.

The NOVA Southeastern University, National Coral Reef Institute (NCRI) has completed independent accuracy assessments of two areas that are part of the NOAA coral ecosystem map. Two Final Reports, available on the web site, discuss the results of the assessments. The NCRI will assess the accuracy of two more areas prior to the release of the final southern Florida coral ecosystem map by NOAA.

Steven O. Rohmann, Ph.D.
Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
NOS/NOAA (N/NMS1)
1305 East West Hwy, #11415
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910 USA
301.713.3125x283
Steve.Rohmann@noaa.gov