This data set contains both coral demographic data and roving diver surveys conducted on October 9 - 18, 2017 to assess the impacts of Hurricane Irma on sections of the Florida Reef Tract. A total of 57 sites were completed, from Biscayne Bay to the Marquesas. Six of the sites were within Biscayne National Park, with the remainder in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Two types of benthic surveys were conducted: Roving diver surveys to document broad-scale impact types and severity and disease occurrence, including photo and video documentation; Detailed Disturbance Response Monitoring (DRM) 1x10 m belt transects to document demographic information and condition of every coral.

This dataset contains the data that were collected as part of a six volume report series on the socioeconomics of visitor use of Puerto Rico’s coral reef ecosystems. Two main surveys were conducted for reef-using visitors to Puerto Rico: the Airport Survey and the CUSTOMER On-site Survey. The first component of the Airport Survey consisted of an on-site survey at the airport on flights leaving Puerto Rico. Information was obtained on place of permanent residence, time of arrival and departure for each participant's current trip to Puerto Rico, number of nights in Puerto Rico on trip, number in the party 16 years and older, and number in party under 16 years of age. Demographic information (e.g., age, gender, race/ethnicity, household income and ownership of second home in Puerto Rico) was also part of this survey. In addition, the survey included questions about recreation activity by type of activity, mode of access (shore, private boat, rental boat or for hire boat), region of activity (five regions), and number in the party that did the activity). Number of trips to Puerto Rico and number of day spent in Puerto Rico over the last 12 month was also asked. The Airport survey was done in the winter and summer seasons). The airport survey also had a mailback component. This consisted of two surveys handed to reef-using visitors after completing the On-site Airport survey; an expenditures and satisfaction mailback. Detailed expenditures were obtained and the number in the party the expenditures covered. The satisfaction mailback obtained ratings on 25 natural resource attributes, facilities and services on both importance and satisfaction with each item. Special issue questions were also included here. The CUSTOMER On-site survey was done at hotels, marinas, dive shops, charter/guide boat access points, parks and beaches where reef-using visitors could be found. This survey obtained activity participation and use as in the Airport On-site survey, but added the dimension of intensity of use measured in person-days and number of dives for snorkeling and SCUBA diving. Again this was done by region and season. this survey also included the willingness to pay questions for the non-market economic values of reef attribute conditions. The survey also included demographic information much like the Airport Survey.

This dataset contains information on the probabilities of hurricane-induced erosion (collision, inundation and overwash) for each 100-meter (m) section of the Puerto Rico coast for category 1-5 hurricanes. The analysis is based on a storm-impact scaling model that uses observations of beach morphology combined with sophisticated hydrodynamic models to predict how the coast will respond to the direct landfall of category 1-5 hurricanes. Hurricane-induced water levels, due to both surge and waves, are compared to beach and dune elevations to determine the probabilities of three types of coastal change: collision (dune erosion), overwash, and inundation. Data on dune and cliff morphology (dune crest and toe elevation, cliff top and toe elevation) and hydrodynamics (storm surge, wave setup and runup) are also included in this data set. As new morphology observations and storm predictions become available, this analysis will be updated to describe how coastal vulnerability to storms will vary in the future. The data presented here include the dune and cliff morphology observations, as derived from light detection and ranging (lidar) surveys.

This dataset contains information on the probabilities of hurricane-induced erosion (collision, inundation and overwash) for each 100-meter (m) section of the Puerto Rico coast for category 1-5 hurricanes. The analysis is based on a storm-impact scaling model that uses observations of beach morphology combined with sophisticated hydrodynamic models to predict how the coast will respond to the direct landfall of category 1-5 hurricanes. Hurricane-induced water levels, due to both surge and waves, are compared to beach and dune elevations to determine the probabilities of three types of coastal change: collision (dune erosion), overwash, and inundation. Data on dune and cliff morphology (dune crest and toe elevation, cliff top and toe elevation) and hydrodynamics (storm surge, wave setup and runup) are also included in this data set. As new morphology observations and storm predictions become available, this analysis will be updated to describe how coastal vulnerability to storms will vary in the future. The data presented here include the dune and cliff morphology observations, as derived from light detection and ranging (lidar) surveys.

This dataset defines storm-induced coastal erosion hazards for the North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland and Delaware coastline. The analysis was based on a storm-impact scaling model that used observations of beach morphology combined with sophisticated hydrodynamic models to predict how the coast would respond to the direct landfall of Hurricane Maria in September 2017. Storm-induced water levels, due to both surge and waves, were compared to beach and dune elevations to determine the probabilities of the three types of coastal change: collision (dune erosion), overwash, and inundation. All hydrodynamic and morphologic variables are included in this dataset.

This dataset defines storm-induced coastal erosion hazards for the North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland and Delaware coastline. The analysis was based on a storm-impact scaling model that used observations of beach morphology combined with sophisticated hydrodynamic models to predict how the coast would respond to the direct landfall of Hurricane Maria in September 2017. Storm-induced water levels, due to both surge and waves, were compared to beach and dune elevations to determine the probabilities of the three types of coastal change: collision (dune erosion), overwash, and inundation. All hydrodynamic and morphologic variables are included in this dataset.

This dataset is a compilation of modeled current and future density distributions of threatened elkhorn corals Acropora palmata in the shallow water (bottom depth ≥ -20 m) off St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. The raster data sets contain predicted distributions of species density and the prediction uncertainty in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2035 and 2055 estimated using process-based random forest (RF) and dynamic range models (DRM). These predictions were generated to inform Caribbean A. palmata restoration plans in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Coral health and disease assessments were conducted along 2 consecutively placed 25-m transects, as part of Rapid Ecological Assessments conducted at 3 sites at Guguan Island in the Marianas Archipelago during 25 May - 09 June 2007, aboard the NOAA Hi'ialakai Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (RAMP) Cruise HI0703. Within an area of 1-3m on each side of both transect lines, each colony was inspected and every diseased/afflicted coral enumerated and identified to the lowest taxonomic level. For each affected coral the following information was recorded: colony size, type of affliction, area affected, percent live/dead, and severity of the affliction (mild = 1-10%, moderate = 11-25%, marked = 26-50%, severe = 51-75%, acute = 76-100%). Coral afflictions were classified into one of six general categories (following Willis et al., 2004) including: bleaching, tissue loss, black band disease, skeletal growth anomaly, predation, and other lesions. This latter category included algal overgrowth, as well as unidentified syndromes causing deterioration of scleractinian corals. Tissue samples of selected cases were procured for histopathological analyses. These data provide the basis for computing quantitative estimates of disease incidence and prevalence. Samples and photographs provide aid in further disease characterization and description. Histological tissue samples are traditionally fixed in a formaldehyde solution prior to preparation for processing and analysis.

Coral health and disease assessments were conducted along 2 consecutively placed 25-m transects, as part of Rapid Ecological Assessments conducted at 3 sites at Alamagan Island in the Marianas Archipelago during 25 May - 09 June 2007, aboard the NOAA Hi'ialakai Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (RAMP) Cruise HI0703. Within an area of 1-3m on each side of both transect lines, each colony was inspected and every diseased/afflicted coral enumerated and identified to the lowest taxonomic level. For each affected coral the following information was recorded: colony size, type of affliction, area affected, percent live/dead, and severity of the affliction (mild = 1-10%, moderate = 11-25%, marked = 26-50%, severe = 51-75%, acute = 76-100%). Coral afflictions were classified into one of six general categories (following Willis et al., 2004) including: bleaching, tissue loss, black band disease, skeletal growth anomaly, predation, and other lesions. This latter category included algal overgrowth, as well as unidentified syndromes causing deterioration of scleractinian corals. Tissue samples of selected cases were procured for histopathological analyses. These data provide the basis for computing quantitative estimates of disease incidence and prevalence. Samples and photographs provide aid in further disease characterization and description. Histological tissue samples are traditionally fixed in a formaldehyde solution prior to preparation for processing and analysis.