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CORAL REEFS by Mary K. Miller |
1. Coral Health and Monitoring Program: Comprehensive and authoritative site about the state of coral reefs worldwide. Maintained by NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency), the site is jammed with scientific data, recent satellite images, archives of coral spawning and bleaching events, and an extensive bibliography of reef initiatives and research.
2. Hawaii Coral Reef Network: Attractive and user-friendly site established by the government of Hawaii. It focuses on that state's reef biology but also incorporates traditional Hawaiian culture in the organizational philosophy. The site includes linked resources, bibliographic information, and even a section on coral paleontology and climate. With a "critter of the week" and frequent updates, it's worth visiting often.
3. Reef Relief: In-your-face Florida NGO outlines the issues and give tips on how to preserve reefs. Check out whether your everyday household habits protect or harm coral.
4. Reef Resource Page: Smart, well-written guide for "reef students" to coral sites on and off the Web. Site reviews are brief and incisive with a scientist's prickly eye for accuracy. Includes reef geology, an often neglected subject.
5. Coral Reef Alliance: Promotion-savvy NGO mobilizes sport divers to give status reports of reefs they've visited.
Also See... NOAA's Coral Reef Home Page, weekly updates on reefs ... Coral Forest, cool NGO headed by Wendy Weir, sister of Grateful Dead Guitarist Bob Weir... Coral Reef Information Page, University of Charleston site about Hawaiian reefs includes an Internet project for schools.
Mary K. Miller is the Senior Science Writer at the Exploratorium in San Francisco and author of a forthcoming book about weather.