The Magic of the Marianas and Micronesia by Ali Hochberg / WESTERN PACIFIC OCEAN / Eric Hochberg gives the “OK” sign after completing a set of benthic reflectance measurements in Palau. Credit: Stacy Peltier Many people are familiar with—or have at least heard of—the…

Taking the Pulse of the Reef: “It’s Algalicious” NASA EARTH·TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2016 Bob Carpenter surveys the seafloor surrounding the research vessel Anthias as it glides over Blue Lagoon, the largest part of the reef that envelops Heron Island. He and his team, which is conducting the…

Heron Island: Like Nowhere Else on Earth Heron Island. Credit: Jim Round/NASA JPL Heron Island is a 42-acre coral cay located within the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, 45 miles (72 kilometers) off the coast of Queensland, Australia. It is surrounded…

Coral Reef Close-up: CORAL Goes Down Under Down Under NASA EARTH·FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2016 It’s a warm and sunny morning in mid-September as Stacy Peltier and her colleagues on NASA’s Coral Reef Airborne Laboratory (CORAL) mission survey team prepare for their first day in the water at…

NASA’s CORAL Mission Journeys to Oz NASA EARTH·TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2016 G’day from Australia! With the successful June campaign readiness tests in Hawaii behind them, NASA’s Coral Reef Airborne Laboratory (CORAL) team has rolled up their sleeves and are now hard at work shedding new…

CORAL Completes First Airborne Look at Coral Reefs Posted on June 22, 2016 at 4:30 pm by sreiny. A high five for a successful science flight. Michelle Gierach (left) greets Coral Reef Airborne Laboratory (CORAL) Project System Engineer Ernesto Diaz and…

The Puzzling Case of Kaneohe Bay Posted on June 20, 2016 at 2:11 pm by sreiny. Kaneohe Bay, with Moku O Loe island at right center. Dredge and fill operations in the bay expanded the island from 12 acres to 28 acres. Credit: NASA/James Round by Carol…

By Carol Rasmussen How We Became CORAL Scientists Posted on June 16, 2016 at 4:38 pm by sreiny. Coral Reef Airborne Laboratory (CORAL) scientists Michelle Gierach and Eric Hochberg identify reef locations for study at Kaneohe Bay on Oahu, Hawaii. Credit:…

By Carol Rasmussen Looking for a Few Cloudless Hours Posted on June 14, 2016 at 3:27 pm by sreiny.   Kaaawa Valley, near Kaneohe Bay on the island of Oahu, on an overcast day. Credit: NASA/James Round Most offices in Honolulu were closed Friday…

By Carol Rasumussen In an Airborne Campaign, Why Boats? Posted on June 10, 2016 at 1:59 pm by sreiny.   As boat operations begin on Tuesday, June 7, Brandon Russell (University of Connecticut) drops the inherent optical properties “cage” into the…