A group of marine specialists in Australia utilized satellite technology and advanced machine learning techniques to produce updated maps of coral reefs around the globe.

The researchers found that there are a greater number of coral reefs worldwide than previously recorded. The countries with the highest number of coral reefs are Indonesia, Australia, and the Philippines.

Over 100 trillion pixels of data were examined. The result is a high-resolution map that gives fresh insight into the distribution of reefs.

The Allen Coral Atlas project has discovered around 348,000 square kilometers of shallow coral reefs worldwide, with depths of up to 30 meters, which is a higher number than previously thought.

The study is expected to provide insight for politicians, scientists, and environmentalists to effectively comprehend and oversee coral reef systems.

Coral reefs are exposed to various dangers, such as global warming, excessive fishing, and contamination.

The Great Barrier Reef in Australia, which is the only living organism that can be seen from outer space, is facing threats from industrialization and the proliferation of crown of thorns starfish that feed on coral.

Mitchell Lyons, a member of the School of the Environment at the University of Queensland in Australia, explained to the Australian Broadcasting Corp that while they had a general understanding of the locations of many reefs in Australia, there were inadequate and inconsistent maps for other regions such as the southwest Pacific, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Having consistent maps worldwide allows for better reporting, tracking, and conservation efforts.

The Allen Coral Atlas and Google Earth Engine provide access to the maps for the general public.

The project is supported financially by a company established by Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft, and run by Arizona State University in collaboration with conservationists and the University of Queensland.

The complete research was released in the publication Cell Reports Sustainability. It reveals that coral reefs support a quarter of the world’s marine life and play a vital role in the lives and livelihoods of one billion people globally.