141 This is a challenging time for coral reefs. Although they cover less than 0.1 percent of the ocean floor, coral reefs support 25 percent of all marine creatures. Collectively, they form one of the planet’s most important ecosystems. Their health is in jeopardy due to increased ocean acidification, rising temperatures, pollution runoff, and overfishing and other destructive fishing practices. The news is not uniformly bleak. A global study of coral reefs that seemed wildly ambitious when it launched in 2014 suggests that some coral reefs are showing impressive resilience. Some could even be considered thriving. From the beginning, managing the study, dubbed the 100 Island Challenge, has depended on a creative and geographic approach. GIS technology helped the 100 Island Challenge scientists define the initial scope of the study. Now it is allowing them to visualize and analyze the data they collect. GIS has also enabled the construction of environmental digital twins. In this case, the highly realistic and navigable 3D models depict many of the world’s major coral reefs, capturing flora and fauna in precise detail. Reassessing Reefs “I’m focused on coral reefs because it’s a great place to watch animals,” said Stuart Sandin, an ecology professor at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at University of California, San Diego. “Organisms are packed together, interacting with one another.” Since the early 2010s, marine ecologists like Sandin have noted how reef health is indicative of a greater overall breakdown in ocean health. Coral Reefs at a Crossroads "Every Coral We See Is Fighting" Mitigating Risk and Increasing Resilience
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