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Coral reefs, Kwajalein Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands

By Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
Underwater view of reefs, look like small spiky bushes, with a wave breaking above them.
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Detailed Description

Underwater image of a wave breaking over a coral reef on Kwajalein Atoll in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. This image shows how the high hydrodynamic roughness of live, healthy corals causes friction that induces breaking of waves over coral reefs, reducing wave energy at the shoreline that can cause flooding and island overwash.

Sources/Usage

Public Domain.