Coral core calcification data from Cheeca Rocks and Little Conch Reef in the Florida Keys provides annual measurements of linear extension, skeletal density, and calcification rates. The dataset was collected between 2003 and 2011 by NOAA's Acidification Calcification and Coral Reef Ecosystems Team (ACCRETE) as part of the National Coral Reef Monitoring Program. Cores were extracted underwater using a pneumatic drill and analyzed via computed tomography to derive growth band records.
Use Cases
- Analyzing annual calcification rate trends over time using derived metrics like linear extension and skeletal density.
- Correlating coral growth band data with historical sea surface temperature or pH records for the Florida Keys.
- Assessing site-specific differences in coral health between monitored reefs Cheeca Rocks and Little Conch Reef.
- Modeling the impact of environmental changes on reef-building capacity using time-series skeletal data.
Strengths
- Data collection follows a standardized NOAA monitoring program protocol, ensuring methodological consistency.
- Cores are analyzed using computed tomography (CT), providing precise, non-destructive measurements of skeletal density and extension.
- The dataset offers a multi-year time series (2003-2011) for tracking calcification changes.
Limitations
- Conflicting last update dates exist between platforms (2011-12 31 vs. 2026-04-01), casting doubt on data currency or metadata accuracy.
- Specific column names, row counts, and file sizes are not provided by any source, limiting initial assessment of structure and scale.
- The dataset's license and explicit authorship details are not documented.
Provenance
- Source
- Acidification Calcification and Coral Reef Ecosystems Team (ACCRETE) at NOAA's Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML).
- Collection Method
- Cores collected by divers using a pneumatic drill, with lesions plugged by epoxy; cores analyzed via computed tomography (CT).
- Time Range
- 2003 to 2011
- Freshness
- null
- Geography
- Cheeca Rocks and Little Conch Reef, Florida Keys, Florida, United States (Atlantic Ocean).