Coral reef

Coral reef

A limestone structure found in relatively shallow water composed of corals, organisms that secrete limestone foundations to provide structural support and protection. There are three geomorphologically distinct types of coral reefs, fringing reefs, barrier reefs, and atolls, although there are gradations between these types. All these types have the same basic biological structure and result from the same processes of accretion.

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Part of Speech: noun
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Industry/Domain: Earth science
Category: Physical oceanography
Company: Texas A&M University
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coral reef

Natural environment; Coral reefs

A wave-resistant structure resulting from cementation processes and the skeletal construction of hermatypic corals, calcareous algae, and other calcium carbonate-secreting ...

coral reef

Biology; Marine biology

A wave-resistant structure resulting from cementation processes and the skeletal construction of hermatypic corals, calcareous algae, and other calcium carbonate-secreting ...

coral reef

Earth science; Physical oceanography

A limestone structure found in relatively shallow water composed of corals, organisms that secrete limestone foundations to provide structural support and protection. There are ...

coral reef

Fishing; Marine fishery

The massive deposition of calcium carbonate by coral polyps of colonial stony corals and other organisms producing large living hard structures. Coral reefs can range in size ...

coral reef

Geography; Physical geography

Offshore accumulation of dead coral, usually with live coral on top.

coral reef

Earth science; Mapping science

A rocky eminence composed of calcium carbonate created principally by corals, and extending upward from the sea floor to the tidal limit.

oceanography

Earth science; Physical oceanography

The scientific study and exploration of the ocean and of the plants and animals that live in it.

ocean

Earth science; Physical oceanography

The body of salt water that covers about 70 percent of the Earth's surface. The Pacific Ocean is by far the world's largest ocean.

saltwater

Earth science; Physical oceanography

Containing water that is very salty. Oceans are saltwater bodies that are fed mainly by rivers.

red tide

Earth science; Physical oceanography

A reddish-brown area in a body of water, such as ocean or river. Red tides are caused by a sudden increase in dinoflagellates.

pseudospectral method

Earth science; Physical oceanography

In numerical modeling, an approximation which uses interpolating functions to estimate derivatives of fields represented on a grid in physical space. It is so-called because the ...

flux Richardson number

Earth science; Physical oceanography

A dimensionless number expressing the ratio of turbulent energy lost to buoyant forces to the energy gained by eddy stress acting on the mean shear. It is the crucial ...

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