Quantitative facies models from modern carbonate are essential for the interpretation of their fossil counterparts. The isolated carbonate platforms of the Kepulauan Seribu archipelago has many atoll‐like islands with reef belts exposed to bidirectional monsoon winds. Statistical analysis based on texture and composition reveal that there are four sedimentary facies; coral grainstone, coral packstone/grainstone, coral‐mollusc packstone and mollusc wackestone. The occurrence of mollusc wackestone in the lagoon is controlled by water depth, while the sand apron and reef front do not show significant facies separation with water depth. The co‐occurrence of these different facies in the same depth window is contrary to the common thought that changes in bathymetry should be reflected in facies changes. The studied reef systems therefore show aspects of random and ordered facies distribution with respect to water depth. A satellite derived environmental facies map generated by an image analysis algorithm indicates that environmental facies distribution is mainly controlled by water depth, density of seagrass cover and coral abundance. The sand apron can be subdivided into three environmental facies with no, sparse and dense seagrass cover. The deeper water zone can be separated into shallow and deep subtidal parts of lagoons and platform margins. In the lagoon, satellite derived environmental facies directly correlated with sedimentary facies. No direct correlation of environmental facies to sedimentary facies was possible in the sand apron due to the heterogeneity and complexity of the environment. However, the mean sediment grain size is significantly smaller in areas of the sand apron colonized by dense seagrass. This study aims to contribute towards a better understanding of modern equatorial Southeast Asian carbonate systems, delineate modern carbonate facies based on sediment texture and composition with the aid of multivariate statistical analysis combined with statistic based satellite mapping, and give insights regarding the correlation between depositional facies and water depth.

We present two 40 year records of monthly coral Sr/Ca ratios from the eastern pole of the Indian Ocean Dipole. A modern coral covers the period from 1968 to 2007. A sub-fossil coral derives from the medieval climate anomaly (MCA) and spans 1100–1140 ad. The modern coral records SST variability in the eastern pole of the Indian Ocean Dipole. A strong correlation is also found between coral Sr/Ca and the IOD index. The correlation with ENSO is asymmetric: the coral shows a moderate correlation with El Niño and a weak correlation with La Niña. The modern coral shows large interannual variability. Extreme IOD events cause cooling > 3 °C (1994, 1997) or ~ 2 °C (2006). In total, the modern coral indicates 32 warm/cool events, with 16 cool and 16 warm events. The MCA coral shows 24 warm/cool events, with 14 cool and 10 warm events. Only one cool event could be comparable to the positive Indian Ocean Dipole in 2006. The seasonal cycle of the MCA coral is reduced (< 50% of to the modern) and the skewness of the Sr/Ca data is lower. This suggests a deeper thermocline in the eastern Indian Ocean associated with a La Niña-like mean state in the Indo-Pacific during the MCA.

Sitting in a biodiversity "hotspot" of the mid-Sunda Shelf region, Karimunjawa Islands have currently been the priority for marine biodiversity conservation. Knowledge of surface sediments on modern carbonate platform is one of essential information to support conservation policies, but such has received little attention from reef researchers. This study describes the sediment characteristics of the selected modern carbonate platforms of Karimunjawa Islands through integrated sediments and satellite data analysis. Textural group of sediments indicates that moderate to poorly sorted gravelly sands are dominant with no grading pattern concerning geomorphological and habitat succession from landward to seaward. Sediment compositions are predominantly bioclastic components, comprising coral and mollusks as the highest and the second highest estimated order of abundance. The reworked grains and rock fragments, although present, are not volumentary abundant. The carbonate sedimentary facies is primarily composed of mud-lean packstone with additional proportion of grainstone and packstone. There are only slight distinct sedimentological characteristics for all benthic habitats as shown by the principal component analysis revealing overlap relationship between sediment parameters and benthic habitats. The study provides the first characterization of sediments which operate on the modern carbonate platform of Karimunjawa Islands along with their controlling factors and specialized nature.

Microplastic pollution has been reported from coral reef systems all over the tropics. Exposure to microplastics has several negative impacts on coral health, such as bleaching, tissue necrosis, or an impairment of the coral's immune system. Despite this potential risk for reef systems, the controlling processes for microplastics dispersion and accumulation in reef sediments are still largely under-studied. Presented here is a study of microplastics (125 µm to 5 mm) distribution in two tropic atoll reef platforms in Kepulauan Seribu, Indonesia. Sediment samples were collected in different facies zones within the reef platform. Microplastics were concentrated using density floatation and characterized by light and scanning electron microscopy. Some particles were identified as polypropylene using micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. All recovered microplastics were classified as secondary microplastics, likely derived from marine and local sources, with fibres as the most abundant type. Microplastics are showing similar transport and accumulation behaviour as fine siliciclastic grains. The abundance of microplastic is controlled by the proximity to the source area of larger plastic debris and hydrodynamic processes. Microplastics are not only present in low energy environments but also high energy settings such as the reef crest. Processes that contribute to accumulation in reef sediments are biofouling, interlocking and the creation of compound grains. Microplastics are present in sediment close to the seafloor (0 to 3.5 cm) but also at depths between 3.5 cm and 7.0 cm. Microplastic particles from below 3.5 cm are unlikely to be remobilized under modal weather conditions in the studied equatorial reefs. Subtidal reef sediment therefore can be regarded as a permanent sink for microplastics. The study shows that microplastics in coral reef environments deserve careful consideration since microplastics pose an additional threat to corals and their ability as framework builders in reef systems.

Kepulauan Seribu is an isolated patch reef complex situated in the Java Sea (Indonesia) and is a typical example for a humid, equatorial carbonate system. We investigate the mineralogical and isotopic fingerprint of Panggang, one of the reef platforms of Kepulauan Seribu, to evaluate differences to other carbonate systems, using isotope in combination with XRD and SEM analysis. A characteristic property of shallow water (< 20 m) sediments from Kepulauan Seribu is their increased LMC content (~ 10%) derived from some genera of rotaliid foraminifers and bivalves. The relative abundance of these faunal elements in shallow waters might be related to at least temporary turbid conditions caused by sediment-laden river runoff. This influence is also evidenced by the presence of low amounts of siliciclastic minerals below the regional wave base. Kepulauan Seribu carbonates are characterized by very low δ13C and δ18O values. This is related to the isotopically depleted riverine input. The δ13CDIC in riverine water is reduced by the contribution of 12C from riverside mangroves. Deep atmospheric convection and intensive rains contribute 18O-depleted freshwater in the river catchments, finally reducing salinity in the Java Sea. The depleted δ13C signature in carbonates is further enhanced by the lack of green algae and inorganic carbonates and abundance of coral debris. Low δ18O values in carbonates are favored by the high water temperatures in the equatorial setting. Since equatorial carbonates in SE Asia, including the Java Sea, are typically influenced by high turbidity and/or river runoff, the observed distinctively low isotope values likely are characteristic for equatorial carbonate systems in the region.

No abstract

The fossil record of Quaternary reef systems, as expressed in uplifted regions by sequences of stacked terraces, has been extensively used either to understand their morphodynamics or to unravel sea level variations. Yet, because these two aspects are intimately linked, Quaternary reef analysis is often underdetermined because the analysis often focuses on single sequences, along one‐dimensional profiles. Here, we take advantage of the lateral variations of coral reef sequences by documenting the morphological variations of the reef sequence on Sumba Island. Near Tambolaka, northwest Sumba, we analysed a reef transect, topography, and associated sedimentological record to obtain a precise coral reef stratigraphy and geomorphic patterns that can be compared with the well‐documented eastern counterpart. In Tambolaka, the reef sequence displays four lower layers of bedded chalky limestone units with a weakly cemented sandy matrix, which we attribute to the Middle Miocene to Pliocene Wakabukak formation based on calcareous nannofossils and planktonic foraminifers. The uppermost layer is a calcretized reefal limestone unit with a well‐lithified sandy matrix, which we attribute to the Plio–Pleistocene reef sequence of the Kalianga formation. Seven marine terraces imprint the regional morphology, four of which we correlate with Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5e, MIS 7e, MIS 9e, and MIS 11c terraces of Cape Laundi, northeast Sumba. When scrutinized at the light of numerical models of reef development, these results indicate that the morphodynamics of reefal sequences is strongly impacted by the tectonic evolution. The geodynamic context sets both the extrinsic conditions of reef development, such as the morphology of the basement and hydrodynamics, and the intrinsic properties, in particular reef growth rate. While the morphodynamic evolution of the sequence is at first‐order representative of the interplay between uplift rates and sea level oscillations, the detailed assemblage of the reef units drastically varies along the coastline.

Abstract. Fossil corals are commonly used in paleoclimate studies to get records of climate parameters throughout the Holocene and beyond. Diagenesis is known as an important error source in paleoclimate reconstruction. The aim of this research was to provide a comprehensive diagenetic investigation involving 2D-XRD, petrographic analysis, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of Porites spp fossil samples from South Pagai, Kendari and Banten Bay, Indonesia as a starting point for further climate studies using coral proxies. This research focused on samples with around 1% calcite content, a level that can create misinterpretation of geochemical proxies. The results indicate that the samples from Banten Bay and South Pagai are well preserved and reliable for paleoclimate study. Only Sample BG1 is not recommended for further use in geochemical proxy analysis due to intensive diagenesis. 2D-XRD allows calcite screening without destroying the coral sample and assists in defining alternative sampling transects. Secondary aragonite and dissolution cannot be identified with 2D-XRD, therefore diagenetic screening should be combined with petrographic and SEM analysis in any areas presumed to have diagenetic textures.