Storm cycles in the last millennium recorded in Yongshu Reef, southern South China Sea |
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Authors: | Ke-Fu Yu Jian-Xin Zhao Kenneth D Collerson Qi Shi Te-Gu Chen Pin-Xian Wang Tung-Sheng Liu |
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Affiliation: | a South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China b Advanced Centre for Queensland University Isotope Research Excellence (ACQUIRE), The University of Queensland, Queensland 4072, Australia c Laboratory of Marine Geology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China d Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China |
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Abstract: | Large storm-relocated Porites coral blocks are widespread on the reef flats of Nansha area, southern South China Sea. Detailed investigations of coral reef ecology, geomorphology and sedimentation on Yongshu Reef indicate that such storm-relocated blocks originated from large Porites lutea corals growing on the spurs within the reef-front living coral zone. Because the coral reef has experienced sustained subsidence and reef development during the Holocene, dead corals were continuously covered by newly growing coral colonies. For this reason, the coral blocks must have been relocated by storms from the living sites and therefore the ages of these storm-relocated corals should approximate the times when the storms occurred. Rapid emplacement of these blocks is also evidenced by the lack of coral overgrowth, encrustation or subtidal alteration.U-series dating of the storm-relocated blocks as well as of in situ reef flat corals suggests that, during the last 1000 years, at least six strong storms occurred in 1064±30, 1210±5-1201±4, 1336±9, 1443±9, 1685±8-1680±6, 1872±15 AD, respectively, with an average 160-year cycle (110-240 years). The last storm, which occurred in 1872±15 AD, also led to mortality of the reef flat corals dated at ∼130 years ago. Thus, the storm had significant impacts on coral reef ecology and morphology. |
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Keywords: | Storm Coral reef U-series dating Late Holocene South China Sea |
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