Linear breakwater reefs of the greater Caribbean: Classification, distribution & morphology.

ABSTRACT: Geomorphic differences among Caribbean reefs have long been noted. These differences are considered to reflect the presence of reefs in different stages of development, following an incomplete recovery from rapid deglacial sea-level rise. But the possibility that these reflect real developmental differences caused by variation in wind, wave, and climate regime, has never been fully considered. Here, for the first time, we quantify the geomorphology and distribution of Greater Caribbean reefs using satellite images in Google Earth and public-domain bathymetry. To do this, we first standardise their classification based on shallow geomorphology, substrate depth, and physiographic setting, and then count and categorise the total number of reefs. These data show a total of 1023 linear breakwat

SUBMITTER: Blanchon P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9683561 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature