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Storm cycles in the last millennium recorded in Yongshu Reef, southern South China Sea [An article from: Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology]
Book Details
PublisherElsevier
ISBN / ASINB000RQZ9G2
ISBN-13978B000RQZ9G3
AvailabilityAvailable for download now
MarketplaceUnited States 🇺🇸
Description
This digital document is a journal article from Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, published by Elsevier in 2004. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Media Library immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Description:
Large storm-relocated Porites coral blocks are widespread on the reef flats of Nansha area, southern South China Sea. Detailed investigations of coral reef ecology, geomorphology and sedimentation on Yongshu Reef indicate that such storm-relocated blocks originated from large Porites lutea corals growing on the spurs within the reef-front living coral zone. Because the coral reef has experienced sustained subsidence and reef development during the Holocene, dead corals were continuously covered by newly growing coral colonies. For this reason, the coral blocks must have been relocated by storms from the living sites and therefore the ages of these storm-relocated corals should approximate the times when the storms occurred. Rapid emplacement of these blocks is also evidenced by the lack of coral overgrowth, encrustation or subtidal alteration. U-series dating of the storm-relocated blocks as well as of in situ reef flat corals suggests that, during the last 1000 years, at least six strong storms occurred in 1064+/-30, 1210+/-5-1201+/-4, 1336+/-9, 1443+/-9, 1685+/-8-1680+/-6, 1872+/-15 AD, respectively, with an average 160-year cycle (110-240 years). The last storm, which occurred in 1872+/-15 AD, also led to mortality of the reef flat corals dated at ~130 years ago. Thus, the storm had significant impacts on coral reef ecology and morphology.
Description:
Large storm-relocated Porites coral blocks are widespread on the reef flats of Nansha area, southern South China Sea. Detailed investigations of coral reef ecology, geomorphology and sedimentation on Yongshu Reef indicate that such storm-relocated blocks originated from large Porites lutea corals growing on the spurs within the reef-front living coral zone. Because the coral reef has experienced sustained subsidence and reef development during the Holocene, dead corals were continuously covered by newly growing coral colonies. For this reason, the coral blocks must have been relocated by storms from the living sites and therefore the ages of these storm-relocated corals should approximate the times when the storms occurred. Rapid emplacement of these blocks is also evidenced by the lack of coral overgrowth, encrustation or subtidal alteration. U-series dating of the storm-relocated blocks as well as of in situ reef flat corals suggests that, during the last 1000 years, at least six strong storms occurred in 1064+/-30, 1210+/-5-1201+/-4, 1336+/-9, 1443+/-9, 1685+/-8-1680+/-6, 1872+/-15 AD, respectively, with an average 160-year cycle (110-240 years). The last storm, which occurred in 1872+/-15 AD, also led to mortality of the reef flat corals dated at ~130 years ago. Thus, the storm had significant impacts on coral reef ecology and morphology.
