A coral reef specialist, with a
Ph.D. in Biological Oceanography from the University of Miami, Dr. Eakin
is Coordinator of NOAA's Coral Reef Watch program, an effort focused on
the monitoring of coral reef ecosystems through satellite, in situ, and
paleoenvironmental observations. In particular, Coral Reef Watch is a
part of the NESDIS Center for Satellite Applications and Research and
uses NOAA satellite data to monitor environmental conditions that lead
to coral bleaching. NOAA's Coral Reef Watch provides the only source of
satellite-based monitoring, alerts, and warnings of upcoming coral mass
bleaching events.
Dr. Eakin has worked for NOAA since 1991. From 2000-2005, Dr. Eakin
directed NOAA Paleoclimatology (part of NOAA's National Climatic Data
Center), and was Director of the World Data Center for Paleoclimatology in
Boulder, CO. Prior to that, he was a program manager for the NOAA Office
of Global Programs in Silver Spring, MD, funding and coordinating research
to improve our understanding of climate variability in the past, how to
predict it in the future and the influence of climate variability and
change on the marine environment.
Dr. Eakin has published on various topics in coral reef ecology,
especially the impact of climate change and other disturbance on coral reefs.
This includes El Niño impacts on eastern Pacific coral reefs in coral reef
ecology and carbonate budgets, thermal stress and coral bleaching, ocean
acidification, oil spills, coral paleoclimatology, and the behavior of
marine organisms. He formerly co-chaired the US Coral Reef Task Force's
Climate Change Working Group and helped develop the International and U.S.
Coral Reef Initiatives and the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN).
He has testified before the US Congress on the impacts of climate change on
coral reefs, was a contributing author on the 2014 Intergovernmental Panel
on Climate Change Assessment Report, and a Chief Scientific Advisor for the
2017 Sundance-winning film Chasing Coral.
Research Interests
Developing and improving coral environmental monitoring from satellites
Long-term Impacts of El Niño and Climate Variability on Eastern Pacific Coral Reefs
Influence of Increasing Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide on Coral Reef Ecosystems:
The Eastern Pacific as an Analog for Future Carbonate Concentration
Development of blended ocean temperatures and a "Living" Drought Index
for North America Using Paleoclimatic and Instrumental Records
Application of Paleoclimatic Data as Retrospective Monitoring of Coral
Reefs: A Component of NOAA's Coral Reef Watch
Experience
Since 2005: Oceanographer, and Coordinator of NOAA Coral Reef Watch,
NESDIS Center for Satellite Applications and Research
2000-2005: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
NOAA Paleoclimatology at National Geophysical/Climatic Data
Centers, Director of World Data Center for Paleoclimatology
1998-2000: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of
Global Programs. Program Manager, Climate Dynamics and Experimental Prediction Program
1991-1998: NOAA, Office of Global Programs, Project Officer,
Marine Ecosystem Response and Paleoclimatology Programs
1995-2000: University of Maryland, Graduate Faculty
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More information
Dept. of Commerce • NOAA • NESDIS • Website Owner: STAR • Contact webmaster • Revised: 19 February 2020
A coral reef specialist, with a
Ph.D. in Biological Oceanography from the University of Miami, Dr. Eakin
is Coordinator of NOAA's Coral Reef Watch program, an effort focused on
the monitoring of coral reef ecosystems through satellite, in situ, and
paleoenvironmental observations. In particular, Coral Reef Watch is a
part of the NESDIS Center for Satellite Applications and Research and
uses NOAA satellite data to monitor environmental conditions that lead
to coral bleaching. NOAA's Coral Reef Watch provides the only source of
satellite-based monitoring, alerts, and warnings of upcoming coral mass
bleaching events.