Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Remote Sensing of Coral Reefs and Their Environments in the Red Sea and Western Indian Ocean: Research and Management

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Remote Sensing of the African Seas

Abstract

The Red Sea and the Western Indian Ocean regions offer a wide variety of coastal configurations, including large areas of coral reefs. In regions that include both developed and developing countries, coral reefs and the services they provide are critical for the livelihoods, economies and well being of local communities, while they are at risk due to both anthropogenic and natural threats. Coral reefs also offer to scientific research a unique array of ecological and geological processes specific to these regions. Both applied and fundamental aspects motivate conservation and management projects. Satellite and airborne remote sensing has contributed to scientific and management projects with a variety of sensors and products, including some of the earliest coral reef applications worldwide 30 years ago. High spatial resolution geomorphology, bathymetry and habitat maps provide a biophysical description of the reefs themselves. Oceanic fields, such as sea surface temperature regime and their anomalies, quantify how coral reefs are exposed to weather and climate forcing. The combined local and large scale spatial information help understand how coral reefs status and processes vary across space and time. In particular, data products are increasingly combined to map the resilience of coral reef and associated habitats, and to design conservation plans at different spatial scales. However, both high-tech state-of-the-art and user-friendly remote sensing are still not used as systematically as it could be, while most countries still need basic spatial information consistent at national and international scales, such as habitat maps. Future applied developments will need to address these gaps in priority products. At the same time, on-going research will continue to refine local and regional products relevant for the science and the management of the Red Sea and the Western Indian Ocean coral reefs and their environments.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Acker J, Leptoukh G, Shen S, Zhu T, Kempler S (2008) Remotely-sensed chlorophyll a observations of the northern Red Sea indicate seasonal variability and influence of coastal reefs. J Marine Syst 69:191–204

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Allnutt TF, McClanahan TR, Andréfouët S, Baker M, Lagabrielle E, McClennen C, Rakotomanjaka AJM, Tianarisoa TF, Watson R, Kremen C (2012) Comparison of marine spatial planning methods in Madagascar demonstrates value of alternative approaches. PLoS ONE 7:e28969

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andréfouët S (2008) Coral reef habitat mapping using remote sensing: a user vs producer perspective. Implications for research, management and capacity building. J Spatial Sci 53:113–129

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andréfouët S (2012) Mozambique channel coral reef habitat mapping. Report to collecte localisation satellites, earth observation information products/services. World Bank projects Project A, Mozambique Channel Mapping IRD Nouméa January, p 56

    Google Scholar 

  • Andréfouët S, Riegl B (2004) Remote sensing: a key-tool for interdisciplinary assessment of coral reef processes. Coral Reefs 23:1–4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andréfouët S et al (2003) Multi-sites evaluation of IKONOS data for classification of tropical coral reef environments. Remote Sens Environ 88:128–143

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andréfouët S, Payri C, Hochberg EJ, Hu C, Atkinson MJ, Muller-Karger F (2004) Use of in situ and airborne reflectance for scaling-up spectral discrimination of coral reef macroalgae from species to communities. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 283:161–177

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andréfouët S, Chagnaud N, Kranenburg C (2009) Atlas des récifs coralliens de l’Océan Indien Ouest. Atlas of Western Indian Ocean Coral Reefs. Centre IRD de Nouméa, Nouméa, Nouvelle-Calédonie, p 102

    Google Scholar 

  • Andréfouët S, Guillaume M, Delval A, Rasoamanendrika F, Blanchot J, Bruggemann J (2013) Fifty years of changes in reef flat habitats of the Grand Récif of Toliara (SW Madagascar) and the impact of gleaning. Coral Reefs 32:757–768

    Google Scholar 

  • Baker AC, Glynn PW, Riegl B (2008) Climate change and coral reef bleaching: an ecological assessment of long-term impacts, recovery trends and future outlook. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 80:435–471

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barnes D, Rawlinson K (2009) Traditional coastal invertebrate fisheries in south-western Madagascar. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. Barnes DKA, Rawlinson KA 89:1589–1596

    Google Scholar 

  • Benny A, Dawson GJ (1993) Satellite imagery as an aid to bathymetric charting in the Red Sea. Cartogra J 20:5–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blythe JN, da Silva JCB, Pineda J (2011) Nearshore, seasonally persistent fronts in sea surface temperature on Red Sea tropical reefs. Ices J Mar Sci 68:1827–1832

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Borstad G, Brown L, Cross W, Nallee M, Wainwright P (1997) Towards a management plan for a tropical reef-lagoon system using airborne multispectral imaging and GIS, 4th Int. Conf. on Remote Sensing for Marine and Coastal Environments, Orlando, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Brock JC, Purkis SJ (2009) The emerging role of Lidar remote sensing in coastal research and resource management. J Coastal Res 25:1–5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bruckner A, Rowlands GP, Riegl B, Purkis S, Williams A, Renaud P (2011) Khaled bin Sultan living oceans foundation Atlas of Saudi Arabian Red Sea Marine Habitats. Panoramic Press, Phoenix, p 262

    Google Scholar 

  • Bruggemann H, Rodier M, Guillaume M, Andréfouët S, Arfi R, Cinner J, Pichon M, Ramahatratra F, Rasoamanendrika F, Zinke J, McClanahan TR (2012) Wicked social-ecological problems forcing unprecedented change on the latitudinal margins of coral reefs: the case of southwest Madagascar. Ecology and Society 17:47

    Google Scholar 

  • Camoin GF, Colonna M, Montaggioni LF, Casanova J, Faure G, Thomassin BA (1997) Holocene sea level changes and reef development in the southwestern Indian Ocean. Coral Reefs 16:247–259

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chapman B, Turner JR (2004) Development of a geographical information system for the marine resources of Rodrigues. J Nat Hist 38:2937–2957

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Courboulès J, Manière R (1992) Apport de la télédétection à l’étude de la relation entre l’hydrodynamisme de surface et les récifs coralliens. Int J Remote Sens 13:1911–1923

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Courboulès J, Manière R, Bouchon C (1988) Systèmes d’informations géocodés et télédétection à haute résolution. Exemples d’application aux côtes jordaniennes. Oceanol Acta 11:337–351

    Google Scholar 

  • Courboulès J, Manière R, Jaubert J, Mandura AS, Khaffaji AK, Eshky AA, Saifullah S (1987) Cartographie d’une zone littorale en Mer Rouge par traitements numériques des données HRV de SPOT 1. Photo-Interprétation 87:35–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Dahdouh-Guebas F, Coppejans E, Van Speybroeck D (1999) Remote sensing and zonation of seagrasses and algae along the Kenyan coast. Hydrobiologia 400:63–73

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dalleau M, Andréfouët S, Wabnitz CCC, Payri C, Wantiez L, Pichon M, Friedman K, Vigliola L, Benzoni F (2010) Use of habitats as surrogates of biodiversity for efficient coral reef conservation planning in Pacific Ocean Islands. Conserv Biol 24:541–552

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Despinoy M, Naim O (1997) Etude sur l’océanographie cotière à l’ile de la Réunion par télédétection multibande. In: Dubois J, Bernier M, Fortin J, Boivin F (eds) VII Journées scientifiques du réseau Télédétection de l’AUPELF-UREF. Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie, Québec, pp 29–36

    Google Scholar 

  • Dorenbosch M, Grol MGG, Nagelkerken I, van der Velde G (2005) Distribution of coral reef fishes along a coral reef-seagrass gradient: edge effects and habitat segregation. Mar Ecol-Prog Ser 299:277–288

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferreira MA, Andrade F, Bandeira SO, Cardoso P, Mendes RN, Paula J (2009) Analysis of cover change (1995–2005) of Tanzania/Mozambique trans-boundary mangroves using Landsat imagery. Aquat Conserv-Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 19:S38–S45

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Graham NAJ et al (2008) Climate warming, marine protected areas and the ocean-scale integrity of coral reef ecosystems. Plos One 3:e3039

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grellier M, Nicet JB, Ringelstein J (2012) Etude d’identification des zones de conservation marines prioritaires dans le cadre de la mise en place d’une réserve naturelle dans les Iles Eparses: cas de l’île d’Europa. EngineerThesis. Ecole Nationale du génie de l’Eau et de l’Environnement de Strasbourg, MNHN, Ifrecor, TAAF, PARETO, 99 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Gullstroem M, de la TCastroM, Bandeira SO, Bjoerk M, Dahlberg M, Kautsky N, Roennbaeck P, Oehman MC (2002) Seagrass ecosystems in the Western Indian Ocean. Ambio 31:588–596

    Google Scholar 

  • Gullstroem M, Lunden B, Bodin M, Kangwe J, Ohman MC, Mtolera MSP, Bjork M (2006) Assessment of changes in the seagrass-dominated submerged vegetation of tropical Chwaka Bay (Zanzibar) using satellite remote sensing. Estuar Coast Shelf S 67:399–408

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hamel M, Andréfouët S (2010) Using very high resolution remote sensing for the management of coral reef fisheries: review and perspectives. Mar Pollut Bull 60:1397–1405

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hamylton S (2011a) Estimating the coverage of coral reef benthic communities from airborne hyperspectral remote sensing data: multiple discriminant function analysis and linear spectral unmixing. Int J Remote Sens 32:9673–9690

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hamylton S (2011b) The use of remote sensing and linear wave theory to model local wave energy around Alphonse Atoll, Seychelles. Estuar Coast Shelf S 95:349–358

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hamylton SM, Spencer T (2011) Geomorphological modelling of tropical marine landscapes: optical remote sensing, patches and spatial statistics. Cont Shelf Res 31:S151–S161

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hedley JD, Roelfsema C, Phinn S, Mumby PJ (2012) Environmental and sensor limitations in optical remote sensing of coral reefs: implications for monitoring and sensor design. Remote Sens 4:271–302

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hochberg EJ, Atkinson MJ, Andréfouët S (2003) Spectral reflectance of coral reef community-types worldwide and implications for coral reef remote sensing. Remote Sens Environ 85:159–173

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hochberg E, Atkinson M, Apprill A, Andréfouët S (2004) Spectral reflectance of coral. Coral Reefs 23:84–95

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hopley D (2011) Encyclopedia of modern coral reefs. Structure, form and process. Springer, Berlin, p 1206

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Hughes TP et al (2003) Climate change, human impacts, and the resilience of coral reefs. Science 301:929–933

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klaus R, Jones D, Turner J, Simoes N, Vousden D (2003) Integrated marine and coastal management: a strategy for the conservation and sustainable use of biological resources in the Socotra Archipelago. J Arid Environ 54:71–80

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knudby A, Nordlund L (2011) Remote sensing of seagrasses in a patchy multi-species environment. Int J Remote Sens 32:2227–2244

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knudby A, LeDrew E, Brenning A (2010a) Predictive mapping of reef fish species richness, diversity and biomass in Zanzibar using IKONOS imagery and machine-learning techniques. Remote Sensing of Environment 114:1230–1241

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knudby A, Newman C, Shaghude Y, Muhando C (2010b) Simple and effective monitoring of historic changes in nearshore environments using the free archive of Landsat imagery. Int J Appl Earth Observ Geoinformation 12:S116–S122

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lloyd P, Plaganyi EE, Weeks SJ, Magno-Canto M, Plaganyi G (2012) Ocean warming alters species abundance patterns and increases species diversity in an African sub-tropical reef-fish community. Fish Oceanogr 21:78–94

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lyzenga D, Malinas N, Tanis F (2006) Multispectral bathymetry using a simple physically based algorithm. IEEE T Geosci Remote 44:2251–2259

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lyzenga DR (1985) Shallow water bathymetry using combined lidar and passive multispectral scanner data. Int J Remote Sensing 6:115–125

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maina J, Venus V, McClanahan MR, Ateweberhan M (2008) Modelling susceptibility of coral reefs to environmental stress using remote sensing data and GIS models. Ecol Modell 212:180–199

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maina J, McClanahan TR, Venus V, Ateweberhan M, Madin J (2011) Global gradients of coral exposure to environmental stresses and implications for local management. Plos One 6:e23064

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Makota V, Sallema R, Mahika C (2004) Monitoring shoreline change using remote sensing and GIS: a case study of Kunduchi area, Tanzania. Western Indian Ocean J Mar Sci 3:1–10

    Google Scholar 

  • Manière R, Jaubert J (1985) Traitement d’image et cartographie de récifs coralliens en Mer Rouge (Golfe d’Aqaba). Oceanol Acta 8:321–328

    Google Scholar 

  • Maritorena S, Morel A, Gentili B (1994) Diffuse reflectance of oceanic shallow waters: influence of water depth and bottom albedo. Limnol Oceanogr 39:1689–1703

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McClanahan TR, Ateweberhan M, Sebastian CR, Graham NAJ, Wilson SK, Bruggemann JH, Guillaume MMM (2007) Predictability of coral bleaching from synoptic satellite and in situ temperature observations. Coral Reefs 26:695–701

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McClanahan TR, Cinner JE, Graham NAJ, Daw TM, Maina J, Stead SM, Wamukota A, Brown K, Venus V, Polunin NVC (2009) Identifying reefs of hope and hopeful actions: contextualizing environmental, ecological, and social parameters to respond effectively to climate change. Conserv Biol 23:662–671

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McClanahan TR, Graham NAJ, MacNeil MA, Muthiga NA, Cinner JE, Bruggemann JH, Wilson SK (2011) Critical thresholds and tangible targets for ecosystem-based management of coral reef fisheries. P Natl Acad Sci USA 108:17230–17233

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Minghelli-Roman A, Chisholm JRM, Marchioretti M, Jaubert JM (2002) Discrimination of coral reflectance spectra in the Red Sea. Coral Reefs 21:307–314

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mora C, Andréfouët S, Costello M, Kranenburg C, Rollo A, Veron J, Gaston K, Myers R (2006) Coral reefs and the global network of marine protected areas. Science 312:1750–1751

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moufaddal WM (2005) Use of satellite imagery as environmental impact assessment tool: a case study from the NW Egyptian Red Sea coastal zone. Environ Monit Assess 107:427–452

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nyström M, Graham NAJ, Lokrantz J, Norström A (2008) Capturing the cornerstones of coral reef resilience. Linking theory to practice. Coral Reefs 27:795–809

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pennober G, Borius A (2010) Détection à très haute résolution spatiale du blanchissement corallien sur les récifs de l’île de La Réunion. Télédétection 9:1–3

    Google Scholar 

  • Purkis S, Pasterkamp R (2004) Integrating in situ reef top reflectance spectra with Landsat TM imagery to aid shallow tropical benthic habitat mapping. Coral Reefs 23:5–20

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Purkis S, Kenter JAM, Oikonomou EK, Robinson IS (2002) High resolution ground verification, cluster analysis and optical model of reef substrate coverage on LANDSAT TM imagery (Red Sea, Egypt). Int J Remote Sensing 23:1677–1698

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Purkis SJ, Rowlands GP, Riegl BM, Renaud PG (2010) The paradox of tropical karst morphology in the coral reefs of the arid Middle East. Geology 38:227–230

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riegl B, Piller WE (2000) Mapping of benthic habitats in northern Safaga Bay (Red Sea, Egypt): a tool for proactive management. Aquat Conserv Marine Freshwater Ecosystems 10:127–140

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rowlands G, Purkis S, Riegl B, Metsamaa L, Bruckner A, Renaud P (2012) Satellite imaging coral reef resilience at regional scale. A case-study from Saudi Arabia. Mar Pollut Bull 64:1222–1237

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Samani D (2005) Une démarche SIG appliquée aux récifs coralliens: Le cas des Iles Glorieuses et Juan de Nova. Msc thesis. Université de La Réunion et ARVAM

    Google Scholar 

  • Scopélitis J, Andréfouët S, Phinn S, Chabanet P, Naim O, Tourrand C, Done T (2009) Changes of coral communities over 35 years: integrating in situ and remote-sensing data on Saint-Leu Reef (la Reunion, Indian Ocean). Estuar Coast Shelf S 84:342–352

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scopélitis J, Andréfouët S, Phinn S, Arroyo L, Dalleau M, Cros A, Chabanet P (2010) The next step in shallow coral reef monitoring: combining remote sensing and in situ approaches. Mar Pollut Bull 60:1956–1968

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sheppard CRC (2000) Coral Reefs of the Western Indian Ocean: an overview. In: McClanahan T, Sheppard CRC, Obura DO (eds) Coral reefs of the Indian Ocean. Oxford University Press, New York, pp 3–34

    Google Scholar 

  • Soto I, Andréfouët S, Hu C, Muller-Karger FE, Wall CC, Sheng J, Hatcher BG (2009) Physical connectivity in the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System inferred from 9 years of ocean color observations. Coral Reefs 28:415–425

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spencer T, Hagan A, Hamylton S, Renaud P (2009) Atlas of the Amirantes. University of Cambridge, p 66

    Google Scholar 

  • Stoddart DS, Taylor JD, Fosberg FR (1971) Geomorphology of Aldabra Atoll. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B 260:31–65

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Teneva L, Karnauskas M, Logan C, Bianucci L, Currie J, Kleypas J (2012) Predicting coral bleaching hotspots: the role of regional variability in thermal stress and potential adaptation rates. Coral Reefs 31:1–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vanderstraete T, Goossens R, Ghabour TK (2005) Realization of a local coral reef monitoring system in the Red Sea using Landsat 7 ETM + data, New Strategies for European Remote Sensing. Millpress Science Publishers, Rotterdam, pp 479–487

    Google Scholar 

  • Wabnitz CCC, Andréfouët S, Muller-Karger FE (2010) Measuring progress toward global marine conservation targets. Front Ecol Environ 8:124–129

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Y, Bonynge G, Nugranad J, Traber M, Ngusaru A, Tobey J, Hale L, Bowen R, Makota V (2003) Remote sensing of mangrove change along the Tanzania coast. Mar Geod 26:35–48

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wells S, Burgess N, Ngusaru A (2007) Towards the 2012 marine protected area targets in Eastern Africa. Ocean Coast Manage 50:67–83

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Figure 16.3 was provided by the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation (courtesy G. Rowlands, S. Purkis, A. Bruckner, P; Renaud). The Aldabra 2011 Worldview-2 image used for Figure 16.4 was provided through a partnership between IRD and Collecte Localisation Satellites (CLS) when evaluating Earth Observation Information Products/Services for World Bank projects (grant ESRIN/Contract No. 4000103101/11/I-IW).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Nouméa, New Caledonia, France

    Serge Andréfouët

Authors
  1. Serge Andréfouët
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Serge Andréfouët .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. TP272, Joint Research Centre European Commission, Ispra, Italy

    Vittorio Barale

  2. Institut für Meereskunde, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

    Martin Gade

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Andréfouët, S. (2014). Remote Sensing of Coral Reefs and Their Environments in the Red Sea and Western Indian Ocean: Research and Management. In: Barale, V., Gade, M. (eds) Remote Sensing of the African Seas. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-8008-7_16

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation