scholarly journals Instrumentation for direct measurements of wave‐driven flow over a fringing reef crest

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (12) ◽  
pp. 627-638
Author(s):  
Benjamin B. Hefner ◽  
Justin S. Rogers ◽  
Samantha A. Maticka ◽  
Stephen G. Monismith ◽  
C. Brock Woodson
Keyword(s):  
Reef Crest ◽  
Fringing Reef ◽  
Direct Measurements

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.

Thalassodendron ciliatum (Cymodoceaceae) in Palau: occurrence, typhoon impacts and changes over time

2018 ◽  
Vol 61 (6) ◽  
pp. 537-546 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick L. Colin
Keyword(s):  
Shallow Water ◽  
Reef Crest ◽  
East Side ◽  
Fringing Reef ◽  
Small Areas ◽  
Rock Materials ◽  
Super Typhoon ◽  
Thalassodendron Ciliatum ◽  
Changes Over Time ◽  
Over Time

Abstract The seagrass Thalassodendron ciliatum (Cymodoceaceae) is uncommon in Palau, Micronesia, but remnant beds occur in an area of less than 1 km2 on the northern tip of Velasco Reef, a sunken atoll, plus small areas on its western rim. The ridges are lengthy, consisting of rhizome mat and seagrass up to 1 m high, and 4–8 m wide forming curving elongate shapes (arcs, concentric curves, circles, patches). Most occur on a gently sloping limestone bottom 22–27 m deep, with some as shallow as 15 m on the Western Rim, and ridges sit directly on top of the limestone pavement, with only the weight of mat and its incorporated rock materials holding them in place. Photographic monitoring over time has indicated they are actively eroding on their edges, but the passage of Super Typhoon Haiyan in 2013 caused much greater damage to the beds. Small patches occur in shallow water on the east side of Babeldaob Island slightly behind the fringing reef crest and have not changed significantly over recent decades.

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