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Global Distribution of Coral Reefs (2018)

This dataset shows the global distribution of coral reefs in tropical and subtropical regions. It is the most comprehensive global dataset of warm-water coral reefs to date, acting as a foundation baseline map for future, more detailed, work. This dataset was compiled from a number of sources by UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) and the WorldFish Centre, in collaboration with WRI (World Resources Institute) and TNC (The Nature Conservancy). Data sources include the Millennium Coral Reef Mapping Project (IMaRS-USF and IRD 2005, IMaRS-USF 2005) and the World Atlas of Coral Reefs (Spalding et al. 2001).

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Additional Info

Field Value
Dataset topic category
  • Environmental and biodiversity protection
  • Marine and coastal areas
Language
  • English
Use limitations Dataset is restricted by the user constraints as outlined by UNEP-WCMC General Data License, https://www.unep-wcmc.org/policies/general-data-license-excluding-wdpa#data_policy.
Temporal extent's start date January 1, 1954
Temporal extent's end date January 1, 2018
GeoNames
  • Cambodia
  • Lao People's Democratic Republic
  • Myanmar
  • Thailand
  • Viet Nam
West bounding coordinates 92.19660609729362
East bounding coordinates 109.47242272200003
South bounding coordinates 5.629890035000059
North bounding coordinates 20.87719113316433
Spatial Reference System WGS 84 (EPSG:4326) (CRS:84)
Attribute Accuracy While having global coverage, the dataset was compiled from multiple sources with varying scale and quality (outlined in "Metadata_CoralReefs.dbf" included in the package). The dataset has yet to undergo external review.
Process Step Approximately 85% of this dataset originates from the Millennium Coral Reef Mapping Project, of which 35% was validated (by IMaRS-USF and IRD-Noumea) and 50% remains unvalidated (but was interpreted by UNEP-WCMC). Millennium Coral Reef Mapping Project products (validated or not) are at a consistent 30 m resolution (multispectral Landsat 7 images acquired between 1999 and 2002, http://www.imars.usf.edu/MC/index.html). Additional information regarding methodology and 'validated' and 'unvalidated' polygons can be obtained from http://oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov/LANDSAT/HTML/README.html.
Lineage UNEP-WCMC, WorldFish Centre, WRI, TNC (2018). Global distribution of coral reefs, compiled from multiple sources including the Millennium Coral Reef Mapping Project. Version 4.0, updated by UNEP-WCMC. Includes contributions from IMaRSUSF and IRD (2005), IMaRS-USF (2005) and Spalding et al. (2001). Cambridge (UK): UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre. URL: http://data.unepwcmc.org/datasets/1
Metadata creator information UNEP-WCMC. For more information, please visit: http://data.unep-wcmc.org/datasets/1
License

No license given
Copyright To be determined
Version 2018
Keywords Coral reefs
Date uploaded January 26, 2021, 06:02 (UTC)
Date modified May 17, 2021, 03:43 (UTC)