| Description |
The Allen Coral Atlas (ACA) is an innovative global platform dedicated to the mapping, monitoring, and conservation of the planet’s coral reefs.
The Atlas combines high-resolution satellite technologies with geospatial models and artificial intelligence algorithms to create detailed maps of coral reefs down to depths of approximately 10–15 meters, covering tropical coral areas worldwide (roughly between 30° N and 30° S).
Through automated classification processes, the Atlas identifies different geomorphological structures of reefs and the benthic composition of the seabed, distinguishing between sand, live coral, algae, and other substrates. This approach allows for a consistent and comparable representation at the global scale, overcoming the limitations of many local or regional studies.
In addition to static maps, the Allen Coral Atlas also provides dynamic environmental monitoring tools that operate in near real time, capable of detecting phenomena such as coral bleaching, water turbidity, and other environmental stress factors that threaten the health of coral ecosystems.
Moreover, the maps and datasets of the Allen Coral Atlas are periodically updated, with new releases (such as the 2022 version) expanding coverage, improving resolution, and introducing new indicators of ecosystem health and stress.
The official portal is available at: https://allencoralatlas.org |