Author Question: Describe how a coral atoll forms. What will be an ideal response?[br][br][b][color=red]Question ... (Read 117 times)

swpotter12 · **on:** Jul 15, 2018

Describe how a coral atoll forms. What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

In most locations ocean water salinity is in dynamic equilibrium, inputs equal outputs. What does this
mean and what are the inputs and outputs for dissolved solids in seawater? What will be an ideal response?

epscape · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 15, 2018

Answer to Question 1

A fringing coral reef forms around an island, usually a volcano. As the oceanic plate moves away from
the spreading center or volcanic hotspot, the plate cools and becomes less buoyant and sinks. The coral
continues to grow upward but the island erodes and disappears below the surface. The coral remains as
a circular atoll.

Answer to Question 2

Additions of ions to seawater are offset by losses of ions so the percentage of ions in the seawater
remains the same. Ions are primarily input from runoff from the continents and from outgassing into
the oceans and atmosphere by volcanoes.