| Abstract: | High-resolution Scanning Hydrographic Operational Airborne Lidar Survey (SHOALS) laser-determined bathymetric data were used to define the morphology of spur-and-groove structures on the fringing reef off the south coast of Molokai, Hawaii. These data provide a basis for mapping and analyzing morphology of the reef with a level of precision and spatial coverage never before attained. An extensive fringing coral reef stretches along the central two-thirds of Molokai‘s south shore (???40 km); along the east and west ends there is only a thin veneer of living coral with no developed reef complex. In total, ???4800 measurements of spur-and-groove height and the distance between adjacent spur crests (wavelength) were obtained along four isobaths. Between the 5m and 15m isobaths, the mean spur height increased from 0.7 m to 1.6 m, whereas the mean wavelength increased from 71 m to 104 m. Reef flat width was found to exponentially decrease with increasing wave energy. Overall, mean spur-and-groove height and wavelength were shown to be inversely proportional to wave energy. In high-energy environments, spur-and-groove morphology remains relatively constant across all water depths. In low-energy environments, however, spur-and-groove structures display much greater variation; they are relatively small and narrow in shallow depths and develop into much larger and broader features in deeper water. Therefore, it appears that waves exert a primary control on both the small and large-scale morphology of the reef off south Molokai. |
| Genre: | Article |
| ProdID: | 70025305 |
| Citation Author: | Storlazzi, C. D.; Logan, J. B.; Field, M. E. |
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| Citation End Page: | 1355 |
| Citation Issue: | 11 |
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| Citation Language: | English |
| Citation Larger Work Title: | Bulletin of the Geological Society of America |
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| Citation Number Of Pages: | 12 |
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| Citation Search Results Text: | Quantitative morphology of a fringing reef tract from high-resolution laser bathymetry: Southern Molokai, Hawaii; 2003; Article; Journal; Bulletin of the Geological Society of America; Storlazzi, C. D.; Logan, J. B.; Field, M. E. |
| Citation Start Page: | 1344 |
| Citation Volume: | 115 |
| Citation Year: | 2003 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | Quantitative morphology of a fringing reef tract from high-resolution laser bathymetry: Southern Molokai, Hawaii; 2003; Article; Journal; Bulletin of the Geological Society of America; Storlazzi, C. D.; Logan, J. B.; Field, M. E. |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/thumbnails/outside_thumb.jpg |
| URL (DIGITAL OBJECT IDENTIFIER): | http://dx.doi.org/10.1130/B25200.1 |
| Date Other: | Wed, 1 Jan 2003 00:00 -0600 |
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