NOAA Coral Reef Watch is a U.S. satellite monitoring programme that tracks coral bleaching and thermal stress across the world’s reef systems. Operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, it provides near-real-time data and forecasts to help scientists, managers and conservationists respond to bleaching events before widespread damage occurs.
The programme uses sea surface temperature measurements from satellites to identify when and where reefs are experiencing heat stress severe enough to trigger bleaching. Its alerts and risk maps have become essential tools for coral reef monitoring, enabling early intervention and informing management decisions across tropical and subtropical coastlines.
