Melting glaciers, increasing water levels, and warming ocean waters are some very familiar issues in recent times, especially since it is related to global warming. On the other hand, virtual monitoring of ocean waters across the world is not something we come across every day. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have a Coral Reef Watch network which has recently expanded the network to 190 locations, across the world’s oceans.
The network is used extensively to watch over coral reefs spread throughout the ocean floors, but the on-site water instruments can be used to monitor the warming temperatures of the oceanic waters, without expensive labor. For corals specifically, it would help monitor bleaching events that take place, and stop activities like illegal harvesting, overfishing, pollution etc that increases the same, causing death of corals.
Since the discovery of satellites they have been used only for quintessential purposes like orbiting the earth, taking pictures, bringing in data and information from space, and have yet not been used on a large scale to help the world’s declining biodiversity. However, it is the only equipment that can be used to give a complete view of the scenario from above. Till date, satellites have only been used for tracking certain wildlife, on land or in water. It would be extremely effective and helpful if used in tracking activities like illegal dumping of garbage or sewage causing pollution, overfishing, whaling, etc.
Source: Msnbc