Caribbean Coral Reefs
Waves breaking across coral reefs.Â
While researching the crucial role of algae in coral reef systems, Dr. Adey uncovered an extensive and complex story of 10,000 years of Caribbean Coral Reef development. Using core drilling, extensive aerial photography and his research vessel ability to cover the entire Caribbean Sea with a network of SCUBA stations, he discovered a previously unknown coral reef and algal ridge history of geological and island-building scale.
Caribbean reef formation and structure over the past 10,000 years.
Structure and time/height of St. Croix reef complex development during the past 10,000 years as determined from numerous core drillings.
Detailed map of a small portion of a coral reef complex on St. Croix. Many coral reef areas in the eastern Caribbean were mapped in great detail during the 1970’s.
Core drilling an algal ridge on the island of Guadeloupe to determine age and structure of this massive reef system.
Drilling underwater on a shelf edge coral reef on the island of St. Croix. This is the submerged reef.
Front face of Pinsonelle algal ridge, off southeastern Martinique on a light trade wind, very low sea day. This algal ridge is built by the coralline Porolithon pachydermum; core drilling showed it to be 25 feet thick and about 5000 years old.Â