[Coral-List] Darwin was WRONG about reef formation

[Bill Allison]

I have read the paper. It does not claim that Darwin's coral reef theory
was "fatally flawed" although it does little to discourage that
interpretation.  It seems to be focused on coral reefs and atolls sprouting
atop carbonate banks and does not seem to address evidence such as almost
atolls on subsiding volcanoes (e.g., Bora Bora) and does not consider the
origins of the carbonate banks atop volcanic basements. It seems like the
press release writers have as is commonly the case, indulged in inaccurate
hyperbole to attract eyeballs.
Cheers,
Bill

On Sat, Oct 17, 2020 at 8:28 AM Douglas Fenner via Coral-List <
coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov> wrote:

> or so says a new article:
>
> Popular piece:
>
> Study: Darwin's theory about coral reef atolls is fatally flawed
>
>
> http://news.rice.edu/2020/10/12/study-darwins-theory-about-coral-reef-atolls-is-fatally-flawed-2/
>
> Original review:
>
> The origin of Modern Atolls: Challenging Darwin's Deeply Ingrained Theory
>
> https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/10.1146/annurev-marine-122414-034137
>
> My thoughts, based on reading the popular article and the abstract for the
> review:
>
> Yes, if you define an "atoll" as a ring of coral at the surface, and you
> carefully ignore that it is on top of an accumulation of up to a mile of
> coral reef carbonate, which is in turn on top of a two mile tall volcano
> which all the evidence shows has indeed subsided with the ocean floor plate
> as it moves across the ocean, then yes, sea level fluctuations with the
> glaciation cycle are widely acknowledged to affect the coral reef
> structure.  It appears that maybe the new thing in this review is that the
> present ring is relatively young and built on top of the raised ring left
> from low sea level stands when rainwater was dissolving the carbonate in
> the center of the ring.  Actually, I don't think even that is new, though
> their being a flat topped bank in between time may be new.  This is a
> further embellishment on top of the Darwin theory, NOT a disproof of his
> theory, which is heavily documented.  The argument back then was whether
> there was a volcano under the carbonate, which drilling proved was correct
> and is no longer in doubt.
>      Perhaps by reading the entire review it will be clear that the review
> isn't saying that Darwin was wrong about subsidence and a volcano being
> under the carbonate, or that there was a sequence from fringing to barrier,
> to atoll, but even the title of the review implies it is.  But of course
> you attract a lot more attention saying that "Darwin was wrong."
>       What do geologists think?
> Cheers, Doug
>
>
> --
> Douglas Fenner
> Lynker Technologies, LLC, Contractor
> NOAA Fisheries Service
> Pacific Islands Regional Office
> Honolulu
> and:
> Coral Reef Consulting
> PO Box 7390
> Pago Pago, American Samoa 96799  USA
>
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> <
> https://nature.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c6057c528fdc6f73fa196d9d&id=38d5d14948&e=190a62d266
> >
>
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> <
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> >
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