As part of the USGS Coral Reef Project, recent USGS work on Molokaʻi includes looking into the coral record to find clues to past sedimentation events.
Overview
The Friendly Isle of Molokaʻi encompasses 673 sq km (260 sq mi), making it the fifth largest of the main eight Hawaiian Islands. The north and west coasts of the island have little coral growth due to impact from northwest swell. However, protected from the southern swell waves by the islands of Lānaʻi and Kahoʻolowe, the south shore of Molokaʻi boasts the longest continuous fringing reef of the U.S. and its holdings. Studies by scientists at the University of Hawaiʻi's Coral Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program have shown that Molokaʻi has sites with the best coral coverage in the main eight Hawaiian Islands. Yet impacts from sediment run-off into the nearshore ecosystem have also caused areas of degradation of the south Molokaʻi reef.
Motivation
The USGS has used the south Molokaʻi reef as its test ground for developing benthic habitat mapping methods including remote sensing and underwater videography. Investigations into sedimentation along the south coast involve deployment of instrument packages to measure oceanographic conditions such as turbidity, currents, waves, temperature, and salinity. Recent work on Molokaʻi includes looking into the coral record to find clues to past sedimentation events.
The USGS has many cooperators on Molokaʻi including the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force (USCRTF) Hawaiian Local Action Strategy (HI-LAS) for Land-Based Pollution (LBP), University of Hawaiʻi, University of Washington, University of California, Santa Cruz, Australian National University, and The Nature Conservancy.
The Hawaiian island of Molokaʻi is just one of the USGS Coral Reef Project's study locations.
Below are data releases associated with this project.
Below are publications associated with this project.
Terrigenous sediment provenance from geochemical tracers, south Molokai reef flat, Hawaii
Coral Ba/Ca records of sediment input to the fringing reef of the southshore of Moloka'i, Hawai'i over the last several decades
Predictions of turbidity due to enhanced sediment resuspension resulting from sea-level rise on a fringing Coral Reef: Evidence from Molokai, Hawaii
Science-Based Strategies for Sustaining Coral Ecosystems
The coral reef of South Moloka'i, Hawai'i— Portrait of a sediment-threatened fringing reef
Coastal circulation and sediment dynamics in Hanalei Bay, Kaua'i. Part IV: Measurements of waves, currents, temperature, salinity, and turbidity: June-September 2006
Demise of reef-flat carbonate accumulation with late Holocene sea-level fall: Evidence from Molokai, Hawaii
Sand composition and transport history on a fringing coral reef, Molokai, Hawaii
Diurnal variability in turbidity and coral fluorescence on a fringing reef flat: Southern Molokai, Hawaii
Optimizing remote sensing and GIS tools for mapping and managing the distribution of an invasive mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) on South Molokai, Hawaii
Quantity, composition, and source of sediment collected in sediment traps along the fringing coral reef off Molokai, Hawaii
Temporal and spatial variability in the flow and dispersal of suspended-sediment on a fringing reef flat, Molokai, Hawaii
Below are news stories associated with this project.
Below are partners associated with this project.
As part of the USGS Coral Reef Project, recent USGS work on Molokaʻi includes looking into the coral record to find clues to past sedimentation events.
Overview
The Friendly Isle of Molokaʻi encompasses 673 sq km (260 sq mi), making it the fifth largest of the main eight Hawaiian Islands. The north and west coasts of the island have little coral growth due to impact from northwest swell. However, protected from the southern swell waves by the islands of Lānaʻi and Kahoʻolowe, the south shore of Molokaʻi boasts the longest continuous fringing reef of the U.S. and its holdings. Studies by scientists at the University of Hawaiʻi's Coral Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program have shown that Molokaʻi has sites with the best coral coverage in the main eight Hawaiian Islands. Yet impacts from sediment run-off into the nearshore ecosystem have also caused areas of degradation of the south Molokaʻi reef.
Motivation
The USGS has used the south Molokaʻi reef as its test ground for developing benthic habitat mapping methods including remote sensing and underwater videography. Investigations into sedimentation along the south coast involve deployment of instrument packages to measure oceanographic conditions such as turbidity, currents, waves, temperature, and salinity. Recent work on Molokaʻi includes looking into the coral record to find clues to past sedimentation events.
The USGS has many cooperators on Molokaʻi including the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force (USCRTF) Hawaiian Local Action Strategy (HI-LAS) for Land-Based Pollution (LBP), University of Hawaiʻi, University of Washington, University of California, Santa Cruz, Australian National University, and The Nature Conservancy.
The Hawaiian island of Molokaʻi is just one of the USGS Coral Reef Project's study locations.
Below are data releases associated with this project.
Below are publications associated with this project.
Terrigenous sediment provenance from geochemical tracers, south Molokai reef flat, Hawaii
Coral Ba/Ca records of sediment input to the fringing reef of the southshore of Moloka'i, Hawai'i over the last several decades
Predictions of turbidity due to enhanced sediment resuspension resulting from sea-level rise on a fringing Coral Reef: Evidence from Molokai, Hawaii
Science-Based Strategies for Sustaining Coral Ecosystems
The coral reef of South Moloka'i, Hawai'i— Portrait of a sediment-threatened fringing reef
Coastal circulation and sediment dynamics in Hanalei Bay, Kaua'i. Part IV: Measurements of waves, currents, temperature, salinity, and turbidity: June-September 2006
Demise of reef-flat carbonate accumulation with late Holocene sea-level fall: Evidence from Molokai, Hawaii
Sand composition and transport history on a fringing coral reef, Molokai, Hawaii
Diurnal variability in turbidity and coral fluorescence on a fringing reef flat: Southern Molokai, Hawaii
Optimizing remote sensing and GIS tools for mapping and managing the distribution of an invasive mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) on South Molokai, Hawaii
Quantity, composition, and source of sediment collected in sediment traps along the fringing coral reef off Molokai, Hawaii
Temporal and spatial variability in the flow and dispersal of suspended-sediment on a fringing reef flat, Molokai, Hawaii
Below are news stories associated with this project.
Below are partners associated with this project.