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Types of Coral Reefs

types of coral reefs

NOAA Image

 

fringing reef

 Fringing reefs are coral reefs that grow in shallow waters and border the coast closely or are separated from it by a narrow stretch of water. Fringing reefs consist of several zones that are characterized by their depth, the structure of the reef, and its plant and animal communities. 

fringing reef

These regions include the reef crest (the part of the reef the waves break over), the fore reef (the region of medium energy), and the spur and groove or buttress zone (the region of coral growth which includes rows of corals with sandy canyons or passages between each row).

fringing reef bora bora

Fringing Reef Bora Bora NASA JPL Satellite: Space Shuttle Sensor: SIR-C/X-SAR

 

Apron reef – short reef resembling a fringing reef, but more sloped; extending out and downward from a point or peninsular shore

barrier reef

  Barrier reefs are reefs that are separated from land by a lagoon. These reefs grow parallel to the coast and are large and continuous. Barrier reefs also include regions of coral formation that include the zones found in fringing reefs along with patch reefs (small reefs), back reefs (the shoreward side of the reef), as well as bank reefs (reefs that occur on deep bottom irregularities).

barrier reef

 Barrier reefs also include reef flats (the are of the reef not exposed), the reef crest, which runs parallel to the coast and is protected from waves, and a coral terrace (a slope of sand with isolated coral peaks). These features are followed by another coral terrace and a vertical drop into deeper waters.

Australia’s Great Barrier Reef nasa

Australia’s Great Barrier Reef

NASA/GSFC/LaRC/JPL, MISR Team. Satellite: Terra Sensor: MISR

 

Patch reef – an isolated, often circular reef, usually within a lagoon or embayment

  • Located in shallow water 10-20' (3-6 m)
  • Outer edge ringed by sand
  • Dominated by large star and brain coral colonies

Patch reef – an isolated, often circular reef, usually within a lagoon or embayment

Ribbon reef – long, narrow, somewhat winding reef, usually associated with an atoll lagoon

Ribbon reef – long, narrow, somewhat winding reef, usually associated with an atoll lagoon

 

Table reef – isolated reef, approaching an atoll type, but without a lagoon

Table reef  isolated reef, approaching an atoll type, but without a lagoon

 

 

Bank Reef – Bank reefs are larger than patch reefs and are linear or semi-circular in outline

Bank Reef – Bank reefs are larger than patch reefs and are linear or semi-circular in outline

Bank Reef Scene 

credit: U.S. Geological Survey

  • Located seaward from patch reefs
  • High species diversity
  • Characterized by spur and groove formation

 

 

coral reef atoll

Atolls in The Maldives Landsat 7

Atolls in The Maldives Landsat 7

 

 Atolls are annular reefs that develop at or near the surface of the sea when islands that are surrounded by reefs subside.

coral reef atoll lagoon

 Atolls separate a central lagoon and are circular or sub-circular. There are two types of atolls: deep sea atolls that rise from deep sea and those found on the continental shelf.

coral reef atoll lagoon

View of Midway Atoll from Space Shuttle

 

U.S. Coral Reefs

Coral Reef Area Shaded Blue

There are extensive coral reefs in the waters of the United States and its territories, covering more than 4 million acres of the sea floor in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, and the Pacific Ocean. More than 60% of the Nation’s coral reefs are found in the extended Hawaiian Island chain. Most of these are included in the recently designated Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Reserve, the largest U.S. nature preserve.

These include reefs off Florida, Texas, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In the Pacific Ocean, they include those of the Hawaiian Islands, Wake Island, Johnston Atoll, the Northern Marianas, Saipan, Guam, Kingman Reef and Palmyra Atoll, Howland Island, Baker Island, Jarvis Island, and American Samoa.

  • New NOAA Maps Show Big Island Has Most Live Coral of Main Hawaiian Islands-Click Here

  • Bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef-Click Here

  • NASA Helps Researchers Diagnose Recent Coral Bleaching at Great Barrier Reef-Click Here

  • Acid  Oceans Warning -Click Here

  • Major international study warns global warming is destroying coral reefs-Click Here

  • Call For Climate Action To Save Coral Reefs-Click Here

  • President Bush Establishes Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument-Click here

  • Caribbean Coral Reefs first mass die off of coral in over 3,000 years images and story click here

For More Information Visit the organizations Below-

REEF RELIEF is a non profit membership organization dedicated to Preserving and Protecting Living Coral Reef Ecosystems through local, regional and global efforts. To find out more about Coral Reefs click on the REEF RELIEF Logo. Do your part to save the Earth join REEF RELIEF today!

REEF RELIEF, Post Office Box 430, Key West, Florida 33041

 

Reef Check is an international program that works with communities, governments and businesses to scientifically monitor, restore and maintain coral reef health. Reef Check objectives are to: educate the public about the coral reef crisis; to create a global network of volunteer teams trained in Reef Check’s scientific methods who regularly monitor and report on reef health; to facilitate collaboration that produces ecologically sound and economically sustainable solutions; and to stimulate local community action to protect remaining pristine reefs and rehabilitate damaged reefs worldwide.

 

Reef Check P.O. Box 1057 17575 Pacific Coast Highway Pacific Palisades, CA 90272-1057

 

The Coral Reef Targeted Research and Capacity Building for Management (CRTR) Program is a leading international coral reef research initiative that provides a coordinated approach to credible, factual and scientifically-proven knowledge for improved coral reef management.

 

 

credit: NOAA, NASA, Reef Check, UNEP, Reef Relief, Australian Government

 

 

 

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Data compiled from The British Antarctic Study, NASA, Environment Canada, UNEP, EPA and other sources as stated and credited  Researched by Charles Welch-Updated dailyThis Website is a project of the The Ozone Hole Inc. a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization