Formation of a coral reef-front spur

Kan, Haidong; Hori, Nobuyuki; Ichikawa, Kazuhiko

doi:10.1007/s003380050052

Cited by 20 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 8 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…As the reef margin prograded seaward the grooves behind became isolated and were infilled by detrital reef sediments. Spurs were also found to extend seaward and landward at Miyako Island in the Ryukyus (Kan et al, 1997a).We suggest LaP and SaP SaGs could be formed predominantly by coral growth in a similar manner. Given that these two classes are often co-located, more research is necessary to understand why LaPs grow longer while SaPs seem to grow wider, narrowing the grooves (Fig.…”

Section: Accepted M Manuscriptmentioning

confidence: 72%

“…For example, the fringing reef along the southern coast of Molokai is narrower where wave exposure is higher suggesting that reefs are unable to extend seaward due to waves (Storlazzi et al, 2003). Wave energy in the CBG is lower than Hawaii but could still prohibit the growth mechanisms reported by Shinn et al (1981) and Kan et al (1997a) occurring for EWE spurs. In which case, the greater…”

Section: Clearly the Formation Processes Dominating Different Sags Hamentioning

confidence: 88%

“…SaG systems have been documented in every global reef province (e.g. Weydert, 1979;Sheppard, 1981;Shinn et al, 1981;Kan et al, 1997a;Rogers et al, 2015). They represent one of the most biodiverse and productive zones of modern reefs (Perry et al, 2013) and are believed to act as natural breakwaters (Munk and Sargent, 1954), regulating the hydrodynamic energy and nutrients received by reef platforms and thus affecting reef biogeography (Odum and Odum, 1955).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Erosional processes include wave and current driven abrasion of grooves by rubble and/or sediment (Cloud, 1954); -pruning‖ of corals on spurs and spur walls by occasional hurricanes (Blanchon and Jones, 1997); and limestone solution of antecedent topography by fresh water flows during sea level low-stands to form grooves (Newell, 1954;Purdy, 1974). Constructional processes include water motion promoting aligned coral growth and eventual colony coalescence to form spurs (Shinn, 1963;Shinn et al, 1981;Kan et al, 1997a); and coral debris being washed together and rapidly cemented by robust, wave-resistant coralline algae forming spurs…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

A morphometric assessment and classification of coral reef spur and groove morphology

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

S0169-555X (16) This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.  Four classes of spurs and grooves are formally defined using remote sensing for global application. A C C E P T E D M A N U S C R I P T ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT Classes correspond to different formation mechanisms with implications for reef platform evolution. Waves are key drivers of feature morphology but width and slope of the fore reef are important. A C C E P T E D M A N U S C R I P T ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPTConfidential manuscript submitted to Geomorphology AbstractSpurs and grooves (SaGs) are a common and important feature of coral reef fore slopes worldwide. However, they are difficult to access and hence their morphodynamics and formation are poorly understood. We use remote sensing, with extensive ground truthing, to measure SaG mophometrics and environmental factors at 11,430 grooves across 17 reefs in the southern Great Barrier Reef, Australia. We revealed strong positive correlations between groove length, orientation and wave exposure with longer, more closely-spaced grooves oriented easterly reflecting the dominant swell regime. Wave exposure was found to be the most important factor controlling SaG distribution and morphology. Gradient of the upper reef slope was also an important limiting factor, with SaGs less likely to develop in steeply sloping (>5°) areas. We used a subset of the morphometric data (11 reefs) to statistically define four classes of SaG. This classification scheme was tested on the remaining six reefs.SaGs in the four classes differ in morphology, groove substrate and coral cover. These differences provide insights into SaG formation mechanisms with implications to reef platform growth and evolution. We hypothesize SaG formation is dominated by coral growth processes at two classes and erosion processes at one class. A fourth class may represent relic features formed earlier in the Holocene transgression. The classes are comparable with SaGs elsewhere, suggesting the classification could be applied globally with the addition of new classes if necessary. While further research is required, we show remotely sensed SaG morphometrics can provide useful insights into reef platform evolution.

show abstract

Section: Accepted M Manuscriptmentioning

confidence: 72%

Section: Clearly the Formation Processes Dominating Different Sags Hamentioning

confidence: 88%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

A morphometric assessment and classification of coral reef spur and groove morphology

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The relative importance of these processes to spur and groove formation varies between locations and through time depending on environmental conditions. Regardless of the balance at any given reef, as suggested by Figure 14.25, elevated wave energy accelerates spur and groove formation; both accretion and erosion have been shown to independently accelerate spur and groove formation with increased wave energy (Cloud 1959;Goreau 1959;Kan et al 1997;Shinn et al 1981;Sneh and Friedman. 1980;Wood and Oppenheimer 2000).…”

Section: Spur and Groove Formationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geology and Geomorphology of Coral Reefs in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands

Rooney

Wessel

Hoeke

et al.

Coral Reefs of the USA

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Seasonal wind patterns influence the configuration and geomorphology of insular reef systems: Yongxing Island, Xisha Islands, China

Shen

Johnson

et al. 2017

Geological Journal

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Yongxing Island is a coral reef island formed by the growth and accumulation of corals and other skeletal fragments on a reef platform. The reef flat is developed around the entire island. The southeast reef flat and the north and northwest reef flat are asymmetrical in proportions, showing significant differences in reef‐flat width, patterns of sedimentary and ecological zonation, fore‐reef slope gradients, and submarine geomorphic features. Through application of an underwater survey, measurements and statistics were recorded on the extensional pattern of the Yongxing reef platform, the reef pool, and the spur–groove systems incised on the reef crests and forereefs. It is demonstrated that the Yongxing reef platform is an irregular ovoid in form with a distinct NW‐SE elongation that includes gently and steeply sloping forereefs and fore‐reef slopes. A gradual transition to the deep sea basin occurs in the southeast part of the Yongxing reef platform, whereas a steep forereef and fore‐reef slope that rapidly transition to the deep‐water basin are more characteristic of the north and northwest sectors of the Yongxing reef platform. The width of the reef platform in the southeast direction is much greater than that in the northwest direction. Correspondingly, the developmental pattern of the north and northwest reef crest and forereef is different from that of the southeast reef crests and forereefs. The southeast reef crest and forereef are characterized by reef pools with various shapes, different water depths, and discontinuous tidal channels on the outer reef flat. In contrast, the north and northwest reef crest and forereef developed a typical spur‐and‐groove system. The former is related to coral reef growth and construction, whereas the latter is shaped by wave or tide flow scouring that contributes to substrate erosion. Similar geomorphic features are known from examples of Indian‐Pacific and Caribbean‐Atlantic reef crests and forereefs, but the occurrence of such features in different parts of the same reef platform provides a new example of reef crest and forereef development. The differences in slope gradient of forereef and fore‐reef slopes (gentle vs. steep in transition), the development of contrasting submarine platform widths in different directions, as well as other submarine geomorphic features on reef crests and forereefs around the reef flats of Yongxing Island may be related to the confluence of several factors. These include the tectonic uplift of reef platform, the island's initial underwater topography, the windward and leeward positions, the direction and strength of winter and summer monsoon, the sea‐water dynamics, and the substrate characteristics related to coral reef growth.

show abstract

Formation of a coral reef-front spur

Cited by 20 publications

References 8 publications

A morphometric assessment and classification of coral reef spur and groove morphology

A morphometric assessment and classification of coral reef spur and groove morphology

Geology and Geomorphology of Coral Reefs in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands

Seasonal wind patterns influence the configuration and geomorphology of insular reef systems: Yongxing Island, Xisha Islands, China

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About