Warm Forecast for Coral Reefs Online Seminar

Part of the Data Visualization Google+ Hangouts Curriculum Collection.

2013 tied for the fourth-warmest year on record. How did coral reefs fare—and what might be in store for them as the climate continues to warm?

Two coral reef specialists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration explored these questions and more at an online seminar: 

Mark Eakin, NOAA

Dr. Mark Eakin, coordinator of NOAA’s Coral Reef Watch program





Ruben van Hooidonk, NOAA

Dr. Ruben van Hooidonk, assistant scientist with NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory and the University of Miami’s Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies.

The seminar highlighted a data visualization about corals and climate change, designed for informal education at museums and science centers. Drs. Eakin and van Hooidonk discussed how they monitor climate change risks to reefs and make projections about their future. The panel also shared evidence about how corals may adapt to heat stress and how that might influence their resilience in the face of future change.

The panel offered tips for interpreting the visualization with educational and museum audiences. 

Funding for this visualization and professional development training is provided by NOAA Environmental Literacy Grant number NA10SEC0080014.