Ocean Science
Ocean Science
OS
Articles | Volume 20, issue 3
Articles | Volume 20, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-20-661-2024
Copyright waived. This work has been dedicated to the public domain (Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication).
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-20-661-2024
Copyright waived. This work has been dedicated to the public domain (Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication).
Articles | Volume 20, issue 3
Research article
 | Highlight paper
 | 
24 May 2024
Research article | Highlight paper |  | 24 May 2024

Impact of Hurricane Irma on coral reef sediment redistribution at Looe Key Reef, Florida, USA

Kimberly K. Yates, Zachery Fehr, Selena Johnson, and David Zawada

Data sets

Seafloor Elevation and Volume Change Analyses from 2016 to 2019 Along the Florida Reef Tract, USA Zachery W. Fehr et al. https://doi.org/10.5066/P9CHC95D

Seafloor Elevation Change From 2016 to 2017 at Looe Key, Florida Keys—Impacts From Hurricane Irma Kimberly K. Yates et al. https://doi.org/10.5066/P937LNZF

Seafloor Elevation Change from the 1930s to 2016 Along the Florida Reef Tract, USA Kimberly K. Yates et al. https://doi.org/10.5066/P9NXNX61

Seafloor Elevation Change From 2004 to 2016 at Looe Key, Florida Keys Kimberly K. Yates et al. https://doi.org/10.5066/P9JTOOMB

Multibeam Bathymetry Data Collected in December 2017, February and March 2018 at Looe Key, the Florida Keys Jake J. Fredericks et al. https://doi.org/10.5066/P9P2V7L0

Model code and software

Seafloor Elevation Change Analysis Tool Jonathan A. Zieg and David G. Zawada https://doi.org/10.5066/P9D5UUZ0

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Co-editor-in-chief
This paper, using pre-storm, immediate post-storm and recovery data, quantifies seafloor elevation and volume change within the Looe Key Reef system of the Florida Keys Reef Tract over a 2.5-year period from 2016–2019 and to examine impacts from category-4 Hurricane Irma and post-storm re-equilibration of seafloor sediments. The study highlights the need to data collected over seasonal and annual time periods to improve characterization and understanding of short-term (event-driven, seasonal, interannual) and long-term (decadal to multi-decadal) rates and processes of seafloor change and help guide benthic habitat post-storm recovery and restoration efforts in topographically complex coral reef systems.
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Short summary
Global understanding of storm-driven sediment transport along coral reefs and its impact on species and habitats is limited. Measurement of seafloor elevation and volume change due to a category 4 hurricane showed rapid burial of coral reef habitats and migration of large seafloor features due to the storm. Post-storm erosion rates were 2 orders of magnitude greater than historical rates, indicating areas of seafloor instability that could be less suitable for restoration of benthic species.
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