Morphodynamic Controls for Growth and Evolution of a Rubble Coral Island
Rubble islands are dynamic sedimentary features present on reef platforms that evolve under a variety of morphodynamic processes and controlling mechanisms. They provide valuable inhabitable land for small island nations, critical habitat for numerous species, and are threatened by climate change. A...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-04-01
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| Series: | Remote Sensing |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/13/8/1582 |
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| author | Lara Talavera Ana Vila-Concejo Jody M. Webster Courtney Smith Stephanie Duce Thomas E. Fellowes Tristan Salles Daniel Harris Jon Hill Will Figueira Jörg Hacker |
| author_facet | Lara Talavera Ana Vila-Concejo Jody M. Webster Courtney Smith Stephanie Duce Thomas E. Fellowes Tristan Salles Daniel Harris Jon Hill Will Figueira Jörg Hacker |
| author_sort | Lara Talavera |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Rubble islands are dynamic sedimentary features present on reef platforms that evolve under a variety of morphodynamic processes and controlling mechanisms. They provide valuable inhabitable land for small island nations, critical habitat for numerous species, and are threatened by climate change. Aiming to investigate the controlling mechanisms dictating the evolution of One Tree Island (OTI), a rubble island in the Southern Great Barrier Reef, we combined different remotely-sensed data across varying timescales with wave data extracted from satellite altimetry and cyclone activity. Our findings show that (1) OTI had expanded by 7% between 1978 and 2019, (2) significant gross planform decadal adjustments were governed by the amount, intensity, proximity, and relative position of cyclones as well as El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phases, and (3) the mechanisms of island growth involve rubble spits delivering and redistributing rubble to the island through alongshore sediment transport and wave overtopping. Frequent short-term monitoring of the island and further research coupling variations in the different factors driving island change (i.e., sediment availability, reef-wave interactions, and extreme events) are needed to shed light on the future trajectory of OTI and other rubble islands under a climate change scenario. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T12:11:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0f584d2825df4be29e8bf05ff738560f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-4292 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T12:11:11Z |
| publishDate | 2021-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Remote Sensing |
| spelling | doaj.art-0f584d2825df4be29e8bf05ff738560f2023-11-21T16:12:39ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922021-04-01138158210.3390/rs13081582Morphodynamic Controls for Growth and Evolution of a Rubble Coral IslandLara Talavera0Ana Vila-Concejo1Jody M. Webster2Courtney Smith3Stephanie Duce4Thomas E. Fellowes5Tristan Salles6Daniel Harris7Jon Hill8Will Figueira9Jörg Hacker10Earth Sciences Department, University of Cádiz, 11519 Puerto Real, SpainGeocoastal Research Group, School of Geosciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, AustraliaGeocoastal Research Group, School of Geosciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, AustraliaGeocoastal Research Group, School of Geosciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, AustraliaTropWater, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Bebegu Yumba Campus, Townsville, QLD 4811, AustraliaGeocoastal Research Group, School of Geosciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, AustraliaGeocoastal Research Group, School of Geosciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, AustraliaSchool of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4067, AustraliaDepartment of Environment and Geography, University of York, York YO10 5NG, UKSchool of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, AustraliaARA—Airborne Research Australia, Parafield Airport, Parafield, SA 5106, AustraliaRubble islands are dynamic sedimentary features present on reef platforms that evolve under a variety of morphodynamic processes and controlling mechanisms. They provide valuable inhabitable land for small island nations, critical habitat for numerous species, and are threatened by climate change. Aiming to investigate the controlling mechanisms dictating the evolution of One Tree Island (OTI), a rubble island in the Southern Great Barrier Reef, we combined different remotely-sensed data across varying timescales with wave data extracted from satellite altimetry and cyclone activity. Our findings show that (1) OTI had expanded by 7% between 1978 and 2019, (2) significant gross planform decadal adjustments were governed by the amount, intensity, proximity, and relative position of cyclones as well as El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phases, and (3) the mechanisms of island growth involve rubble spits delivering and redistributing rubble to the island through alongshore sediment transport and wave overtopping. Frequent short-term monitoring of the island and further research coupling variations in the different factors driving island change (i.e., sediment availability, reef-wave interactions, and extreme events) are needed to shed light on the future trajectory of OTI and other rubble islands under a climate change scenario.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/13/8/1582reef island dynamicsgeomorphic changeDEMs of differenceremote-sensingGreat Barrier Reefrubble spit dynamics |
| spellingShingle | Lara Talavera Ana Vila-Concejo Jody M. Webster Courtney Smith Stephanie Duce Thomas E. Fellowes Tristan Salles Daniel Harris Jon Hill Will Figueira Jörg Hacker Morphodynamic Controls for Growth and Evolution of a Rubble Coral Island Remote Sensing reef island dynamics geomorphic change DEMs of difference remote-sensing Great Barrier Reef rubble spit dynamics |
| title | Morphodynamic Controls for Growth and Evolution of a Rubble Coral Island |
| title_full | Morphodynamic Controls for Growth and Evolution of a Rubble Coral Island |
| title_fullStr | Morphodynamic Controls for Growth and Evolution of a Rubble Coral Island |
| title_full_unstemmed | Morphodynamic Controls for Growth and Evolution of a Rubble Coral Island |
| title_short | Morphodynamic Controls for Growth and Evolution of a Rubble Coral Island |
| title_sort | morphodynamic controls for growth and evolution of a rubble coral island |
| topic | reef island dynamics geomorphic change DEMs of difference remote-sensing Great Barrier Reef rubble spit dynamics |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/13/8/1582 |
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