scholarly journals Future Reef Growth Can Mitigate Physical Impacts of Sea-Level Rise on Atoll Islands

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (10) ◽  
pp. 1002-1014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward Beetham ◽  
Paul S. Kench ◽  
Stéphane Popinet
Keyword(s):  
Sea Level Rise ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
Reef Growth

Sustained coral reef growth in the critical wave dissipation zone of a Maldivian atoll

2022 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul S. Kench ◽  
Edward P. Beetham ◽  
Tracey Turner ◽  
Kyle M. Morgan ◽  
Susan D. Owen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sea Level Rise ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
Coastal Hazards ◽  
Reef Crest ◽  
Reef Growth ◽  
Wave Dissipation ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Reef Accretion ◽  
Direct Measurements

AbstractSea-level rise is expected to outpace the capacity of coral reefs to grow and maintain their wave protection function, exacerbating coastal flooding and erosion of adjacent shorelines and threatening coastal communities. Here we present a new method that yields highly-resolved direct measurements of contemporary reef accretion on a Maldivian atoll reef rim, the critical zone that induces wave breaking. Results incorporate the suite of physical and ecological processes that contribute to reef accumulation and show growth rates vary from 6.6 ± 12.5 mm.y−1 on the reef crest, and up to 3.1 ± 10.2 mm.y−1, and −0.5 ± 1.8 mm.yr−1 on the outer and central reef flat respectively. If these short-term results are maintained over decades, the reef crest could keep pace with current sea-level rise. Findings highlight the need to resolve contemporary reef accretion at the critical wave dissipation zone to improve predictions of future reef growth, and re-evaluate exposure of adjacent shorelines to coastal hazards.

scholarly journals Role of Future Reef Growth on Morphological Response of Coral Reef Islands to Sea-Level Rise

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerhard Masselink ◽  
Robert McCall ◽  
Edward Beetham ◽  
Paul Simon Kench ◽  
Curt D. Storlazzi
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Sea Level Rise ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
Reef Growth ◽  
Morphological Response ◽  
Reef Islands

scholarly journals Role of Future Reef Growth on Morphological Response of Coral Reef Islands to Sea‐Level Rise

2021 ◽  
Vol 126 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Masselink ◽  
R. McCall ◽  
E. Beetham ◽  
P. Kench ◽  
C. Storlazzi
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Sea Level Rise ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
Reef Growth ◽  
Morphological Response ◽  
Reef Islands

scholarly journals Projecting of wave height and water level on reef-lined coasts due to intensified tropical cyclones and sea level rise in Palau to 2100

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 669-686 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chuki Hongo ◽  
Haruko Kurihara ◽  
Yimnang Golbuu
Keyword(s):  
Sea Level Rise ◽  
Water Level ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
Tropical Cyclones ◽  
Wave Height ◽  
Saltwater Intrusion ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Beach Erosion ◽  
Reef Growth ◽  
Significant Wave

Abstract. Tropical cyclones (TCs) and sea level rise (SLR) cause major problems including beach erosion, saltwater intrusion into groundwater, and damage to infrastructure in coastal areas. The magnitude and extent of damage is predicted to increase as a consequence of future climate change and local factors. Upward reef growth has attracted attention for its role as a natural breakwater, reducing the risks of natural disasters to coastal communities. However, projections of change in the risk to coastal reefs under conditions of intensified TCs and SLR are poorly quantified. In this study we projected the wave height and water level on Melekeok reef in the Palau Islands by 2100, based on wave simulations under intensified TCs (significant wave height at the outer ocean: SWHo = 8.7–11.0 m; significant wave period at the outer ocean: SWPo = 13–15 s) and SLR (0.24–0.98 m). To understand effects of upward reef growth on the reduction of the wave height and water level, the simulation was conducted for two reef condition scenarios: a degraded reef and a healthy reef. Moreover, analyses of reef growth based on a drilled core provided an assessment of the coral community and rate of reef production necessary to reduce the risk from TCs and SLR on the coastal areas. According to our calculations under intensified TCs and SLR by 2100, significant wave heights at the reef flat (SWHr) will increase from 1.05–1.24 m at present to 2.14 m if reefs are degraded. Similarly, by 2100 the water level at the shoreline (WLs) will increase from 0.86–2.10 m at present to 1.19–3.45 m if reefs are degraded. These predicted changes will probably cause beach erosion, saltwater intrusion into groundwater, and damage to infrastructure, because the coastal village is located at  ∼ 3 m above the present mean sea level. These findings imply that even if the SWHr is decreased by only 0.1 m by upward reef growth, it will probably reduce the risks of costal damages. Our results showed that a healthy reef will reduce a maximum of 0.44 m of the SWHr. According to analysis of drilled core, corymbose Acropora corals will be key to reducing the risks, and 2.6–5.8 kg CaCO3 m−2 yr−1, equivalent to  > 8 % of coral cover, will be required to keep a healthy reef by 2100. This study highlights that the maintaining reef growth (as a function of coral cover) in the future is effective in reducing the risk of coastal damage arising from wave action. Although the present study focuses on Melekeok fringing reef, many coral reefs are in the same situation under conditions of intensified TCs and SLR, and therefore the results of this study are applicable to other reefs. These researches are critical in guiding policy development directed at disaster prevention for small island nations and for developing and developed countries.

scholarly journals Maximizing oyster-reef growth supports green infrastructure with accelerating sea-level rise

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin T. Ridge ◽  
Antonio B. Rodriguez ◽  
F. Joel Fodrie ◽  
Niels L. Lindquist ◽  
Michelle C. Brodeur ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sea Level Rise ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Oyster Reef ◽  
Reef Growth

scholarly journals Effects of ocean acidification on the dissolution rates of reef-coral skeletons

PeerJ ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. e208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert van Woesik ◽  
Kelly van Woesik ◽  
Liana van Woesik ◽  
Sandra van Woesik
Keyword(s):  
Ocean Acidification ◽  
Sea Level Rise ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
Average Rate ◽  
Reef Coral ◽  
Reef Growth ◽  
Dissolution Rates ◽  
Coral Skeletons ◽  
Surface Areas ◽  
Coral Colony

Ocean acidification threatens the foundation of tropical coral reefs. This study investigated three aspects of ocean acidification: (i) the rates at which perforate and imperforate coral-colony skeletons passively dissolve when pH is 7.8, which is predicted to occur globally by 2100, (ii) the rates of passive dissolution of corals with respect to coral-colony surface areas, and (iii) the comparative rates of a vertical reef-growth model, incorporating passive dissolution rates, and predicted sea-level rise. By 2100, when the ocean pH is expected to be 7.8, perforateMontiporacoral skeletons will lose on average 15 kg CaCO3m−2y−1, which is approximately −10.5 mm of vertical reduction of reef framework per year. This rate of passive dissolution is higher than the average rate of reef growth over the last several millennia and suggests that reefs composed of perforateMontiporacoral skeletons will have trouble keeping up with sea-level rise under ocean acidification. Reefs composed of primarily imperforate coral skeletons will not likely dissolve as rapidly, but our model shows they will also have trouble keeping up with sea-level rise by 2050.

Glacial Contributions to 21st Century Sea Level Rise

Eos ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate Wheeling
Keyword(s):  
Sea Level Rise ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
21St Century ◽  
Mass Change ◽  
Sources Of Uncertainty

Researchers identify the main sources of uncertainty in projections of global glacier mass change, which is expected to add about 8–16 centimeters to sea level, through this century.

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