Coral reefs are unique marine ecosystems that have a critical infrastructural role in coastal protection, especially on Small Island Developing States. Besides being the most biodiverse marine ecosystems in the world and providing habitat for several million species, coral reefs provide immense value in terms of food, livelihoods, recreation and critical infrastructure. 

Coral reefs save billions of dollars in storm and flood damage every year across the world. Their high species diversity is responsible for their structural complexity, which, along with their unique geological features, are responsible for attenuating high wave energy associated with hurricanes and sea level rise.

However, in the Caribbean they are threatened by pollution and overconsumption, which is aggravated by climate change. Our laboratory experiments aim to model Caribbean coral reefs and quantify how they affect wave attenuation and coastal erosion under given climate change scenarios.

See below for some photos of our work in the lab!

Preliminary Coral Reef Experiments at the UWI, St. Augustine Campus

Coral reefs of similar aggregate size. A block of polystrene foam was placed in the middle of the model to reduce the weight of the model.
A wave propagates over the reef in our laboratory
A side view of the coral model in the flume
An aerial view of the coral model in the wave flume

 

Coral Reef Experiments at Imperial College, United Kingdom

Close up of the corals in the wave flume
Modeled coral reef in the wave flume
Aerial view of 3D printed coral. Thee corals were modeled after the Buccoo Reef in Tobago
Side view of reef in the wave flume
Side view of reef platform in the flume, before adding reef elements
Close up view of coral species
Side view