Coral reef structural complexity loss exposes coastlines to waves
Carlot, J.; Vousdoukas, M.; Rovere, A.; Karambas, T.; Lenihan, H.S.; Kayal, M.; Adjeroud, M.; Pérez-Rosales, G.; Hedouin, L.; Parravicini, V. (2023). Coral reef structural complexity loss exposes coastlines to waves. NPG Scientific Reports 13(1): 1683. https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-28945-x
In: Scientific Reports (Nature Publishing Group). Nature Publishing Group: London. ISSN 2045-2322; e-ISSN 2045-2322, more
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| Authors | | Top |
- Carlot, J.
- Vousdoukas, M.
- Rovere, A.
- Karambas, T.
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- Lenihan, H.S.
- Kayal, M.
- Adjeroud, M.
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- Pérez-Rosales, G.
- Hedouin, L.
- Parravicini, V.
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| Abstract |
Coral reefs offer natural coastal protection by attenuating incoming waves. Here we combine unique coral disturbance-recovery observations with hydrodynamic models to quantify how structural complexity dissipates incoming wave energy. We find that if the structural complexity of healthy coral reefs conditions is halved, extreme wave run-up heights that occur once in a 100-years will become 50 times more frequent, threatening reef-backed coastal communities with increased waves, erosion, and flooding. |
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