reefs
Shallow marine hazards
Reefs are ridges of rock, coral, or sand lying at or near the surface of water—hazards to navigation but rich ecosystems.
Coral reefs, built by colonies of tiny organisms, support extraordinary marine biodiversity.
To reef a sail is to reduce its area by folding or rolling part of it, managing wind exposure: We reefed the mainsail as the storm approached.
Marine skeletal formation
- atollRing-shaped reef island
- barrierObstruction preventing passage
- lagoonSheltered coastal shallows
- polypsFixed aquatic invertebrates
tropical · shallow · underwater · ecosystem · snorkeling · diving · fish · sea life
Destroyed vessel at sea
- navigationDetermining position and course
- shoalShallow water hazard
- rockyCovered with stones
- groundingConnecting to earth
lighthouse · chart · nautical · wreckage · danger · shallow water · collision · hull
Chemical color removal
- climate changePlanetary atmospheric transformation
- acidificationIncrease in hydrogen ions
- restorationReturning something to condition
- endangeredAt risk of extinction
protection · marine park · WWF · temperature · spawning · algae · symbiosis · degradation
coral
Marine skeletal formation
polyps · tropical · shallow · underwater · ecosystem · snorkeling · diving · fish · sea life · biodiversity
shipwreck
Destroyed vessel at sea
- navigationDetermining position and course
- shoalShallow water hazard
- rockyCovered with stones
grounding · lighthouse · chart · nautical · wreckage · danger · shallow water · collision · hull · maritime
bleaching
Chemical color removal
- climate changePlanetary atmospheric transformation
- acidificationIncrease in hydrogen ions
- restorationReturning something to condition
endangered · protection · marine park · WWF · temperature · spawning · algae · symbiosis · degradation · overfishing
shorten
Reduce in extent
wind · knot · line · gale · heavy weather · jiffy · slab · roller · boom · canvas
- tropical islandsatolls, coral islands, volcanic islands, lagoons, palm trees
- aquatic sciencemarine biology, limnology, ichthyology, oceanography, aquatic ecosystems
- Caribbean resortsall-inclusive, all-inclusive resorts, beach resorts, resorts, resort hotels
- coastal habitatsshoreline, shorelines, tidal flat, coastline, mudflat
- coastal managementcoastal erosion, coastal wetlands, sea level rise, seawalls, coastal flooding
- diving spotsdive sites, night dives, shipwrecks, wrecks, cenotes
reefsopen water
Unobstructed body navigable freely
deep sea · ocean depths · trenches · deep ocean · dead zones
reefsopen water
Unobstructed body navigable freely
safe harbor · navigable waters · fairway · shipping lanes · anchorage
reefstrenches
Elongated ground excavations
ocean depths · deep sea floor · chasms · abysses · ocean basins
- coral reefCalcium carbonate marine ecosystem
- barrier reefsOffshore coral formations creating lagoons
- Great Barrier ReefVast coral formation near Australia
- coral reef protectionConserving colonial marine habitats
- artificial reefConstructed undersea ecosystem base
- tropical reefWarm-sea underwater formation
reef, coral reef, reefer, reefed, reefing, barrier reef, artificial reef