Understanding indicators of planetary health

The Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory at Arizona State University is the world’s first entity dedicated to holistically reshaping our relationship with our world including its physical, environmental, societal and economic systems.

Researchers from the ASU Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science capture images of coral reefs around the world to track their health and potential for recovery from climate change impacts.

The Global Futures Laboratory represents the intellectual convergence of thousands of years of human adaptation, aligned with ASU’s commitment to sustainability and ethical innovation as core values in learning and practices. It is a bold response to confront the existential threats facing our planet with speed, urgency, innovation and cooperation.

Our vision is a future in which life thrives on a healthy planet.

The Global Airborne Observatory is one of many tools engaged by the ASU Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science to measure, evaluate and track the health of Earth’s biodiversity. Using bespoke technology, this flying laboratory enables ASU scientists and their partners from around the world to analyze the state of our planet’s corals and forests in unprecedented ways.

Powered by ASU, the Allen Coral Atlas generates never-before-seen analysis of the planet’s coral reef systems, among the most sensitive indicators of planetary health that includes coral bleaching and turbidity impacts. Its groundbreaking analysis is drawn from research that combines ground measurements, readings from the Global Airborne Observatory and satellite imagery.