Reef halos allow experts to monitor coral health from space

It is extremely difficult and expensive for scientists to observe coral reefs, especially those in remote locations that are not easy to access. But now, researchers are describing a mysterious phenomenon that could make it possible to monitor the health of coral reefs from space. Coral reef are often surrounded by very large “halos” made up of bare sand that are hundreds to thousands of square meters. Two recent studies and a feature story led by Professor Elizabeth Madin of the University of Hawaii at Manoa …