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The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database
Journal of Sedimentary Research (SEPM)
Abstract
Anatomy of a Fringing Reef Around Grand Cayman: Storm Rubble, Not Coral Framework
Paul Blanchon (*), Brian Jones, William Kalbfleisch
ABSTRACT
In addition to explaining reef anatomy, hurricane control also explains
the variation in reef architecture along shelf, uniform reef location across
shelf, and reef absence along certain shelf sections. As hurricane waves
cross a mid-shelf scarp, they start to break and destroy coral growth over
most of the inner shelf. Coral rubble generated by these waves is deposited
350 (± 50) m from the mid-shelf scarp on margins exposed to the
largest waves, but only 250 (± 50) m on semi-protected margins that
experience smaller, fetch-limited waves. In areas where the width of the
inner shelf is < 250 m, hurricane waves throw rubble ashore and a fringing
reef does not develop. During sea-level rise, this influence of shelf width
on rubble deposition controls the timing of reef nitiation, and that in
turn controls reef architecture. Reefs initiate first on low-gradient coasts
with wide shelves, and gradually extend around higher-gradient coasts as
sea level rises and shelf width increases. Thus, older reefs are located
farther offshore, front deeper lagoons, and have thicker and narrower profiles
than younger reefs.
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