Marine Environment

Continental Shelf
Shallow submerged extension of a continent
Ave. depth: 135 -140 m; Ave slope: 2m per km; Ave. width: 70 km

Deposits : terrigenous sediments (coming from rock and land erosions)

inshore coarser sediments outshore - finer sediments caused by sea level change and wave energy

Calcium Carbonate Depth

Point in the ocean where the rate of precipitation of calcium carbonate is balanced by the rate of dissolution due to the conditions present. Calcium carbonate is unusual in that its solubility increases with decreasing temperature. Increasing pressure also increases the solubility of calcium carbonate. The CCD can range from 4-6 km below sea level.

Coral Reefs
composed of carbonate structures formed by carbonate secreting organisms build up on continental shelves form limestone deposits

Reefs: Formation through time

Fringing Reef
Grows seaward directly from the shore.

Forms borders along the shoreline and surrounding islands.

http://www.marinebio.net/marinescience/04b enthon/crimg/fringingreef.jpg

Barrier Reef
Separated from land by an expanse of water. This creates a lagoon of open, often deep water between the reef and the shore.

http://www.marinebio.net/marinescience/04ben thon/crimg/barrierreef.jpg

Atoll Reef
Circular reef that rims lagoons
Surrounded by deep water Small islands of calcareous sand may be built by the waves at places along the reef ring. The diameter of atolls varies from 1 to more than 100km.

http://www.marinebio.net/marinescience/04b enthon/crimg/atollreef.jpg

Fringing Reef on Yap, Micronesia

Great Barrier Reef

Atoll reef (on a Maldives island)

Atoll Formation

References:
Oceanography: An Introduction to the Marine Environment Oceanography: An invitation to Marine Science Physical Geology http://www.wisegeek.com/s/calcium-carbonate-depth http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/sea-floor-geology/6 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/threecorals.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimpatterson/3198108127/