Definition
This is a classification of coral reefs based on their response to rising sea levels.
Introduction
Coral reefs can be classified according to their ability to cope with the post-Pleistocene rise in sea level. Their response to rising sea level is governed by many factors: notably, composition of reef-building communities, changes in the rates of sea-level rise, topography of the substrate when reef growth is initiated, and stress from inimical waters in reef lagoons (Neumann and Macintyre, 1985). The response patterns of reefs have been well documented in studies of reef-growth histories in the Atlantic/Caribbean region but apply to other ocean areas as well. These patterns can be described by a simple analogy comparing reefs to a group of joggers in a race against sea level (Neumann and Macintyre, 1985). Those able to keep pace with the rising sea level are “Keep-Up” reefs; those coming up from behind are “Catch-Up” reefs; and those that are unable to keep up and are left...
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Macintyre, I.G., Neumann, A.C. (2011). Reef Classification, Response To Sea Level Rise. In: Hopley, D. (eds) Encyclopedia of Modern Coral Reefs. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-2639-2_90
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-2639-2_90
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
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