What common environmental issue can satellites detect due to its impact on coastal temperatures?

Satellites are equipped with remote sensing technology that enables them to measure temperature variations in large bodies of water, among other environmental factors. Coral bleaching occurs when elevated sea temperatures lead to the expulsion of zooxanthellae, which are the symbiotic algae that live within coral tissues. This phenomenon causes corals to lose their color and significant vitality, ultimately jeopardizing whole ecosystems.

When sea temperatures rise, satellites can detect these shifts in temperature with precision, allowing for the monitoring of coral bleaching events over expansive areas. This is crucial because coral reefs are highly sensitive to temperature changes, and prolonged elevated temperatures can lead to widespread bleaching and reef degradation.

The other options, while they may be significant environmental concerns, do not directly correlate with temperature measurements in the same way. Coastal erosion and urban runoff are more related to sediment movement and pollutant transfer, while oil spills are usually detected through specific identifiers like color changes in the water rather than temperature changes. Thus, the detection of coral bleaching via satellite technology is a clear example of how environmental issues linked with temperature can be monitored effectively from space.