UCSC-GEOPATHS SUMMER INTERNSHIP US Geological Survey Coral Reef Hazards Assessment

Abstract:

UCSC GEOPATHS is an NSF-supported initiative to improve student success in the
geosciences, driven by a desire to broaden participation. One component of the program is
undergraduate student internships that provide authentic, career-relevant experiences – across all
employment sectors – to increase student engagement in the geoscience pipeline.

My GEOPATHS Internship at the US Geological Survey focused on compiling data
about various anthropogenic, environmental, and socioeconomical hazards affecting
coral reefs in the United States. This data was then used to create maps with ArcGIS to
display the threat level each hazard has on the coral reefs in Guam, Commonwealth of
Northern Marianas Islands, American Samoa, Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the US
Virgin Islands. Using a green to red color scale, each map displays the effects of a
single hazard with green being a low threat level and red being highly threatened.
Accompanying these visuals is a short paragraph documenting the data source, what
the data are, and how this metric relates to coral reef health. These maps will be used to evaluate
the overall threat level to various reefs and to guide coral reef
management and protection. This internship has helped me develop my reading
comprehension skills, my scientific writing skills, and my skills with ArcGIS. I will share the
results of my project and experiences in the program.