Chapter 14, Problem 1CT

What factors might account for the fact that the vast majority of atolls occur in the Indian and Pacific oceans and that atolls are rare in the Atlantic?

Summary Introduction

To determine: The factors that might account for the fact that the vast majority of atolls occur in the Indian and Pacific oceans and that atolls are rare in the Atlantic.

Introduction: A ring of coral reef and the islands or sand clays that are surrounded by a central lagoon is known as atolls. In the Indo-West Pacific region, there are a vast majority of atolls. The Indo-West Pacific region is the tropical region of Indian and western Pacific oceans. Atolls are rare in the Caribbean and other region of the tropical Atlantic Ocean.

Explanation of Solution

The factors that might account for the fact that the vast majority of atolls occur in the Indian and Pacific oceans and those atolls are rare in the Atlantic are as follows:

• Atolls are mostly found far from the land by rising up from depths of thousands of meters.
• At this region, there are no land around, no fresh water runoff, and no river-borne silt.
• The crests of atoll reef are strongly influenced by waves and winds as the Indo-West Pacific region is the region of trade winds belt where the wind flows in a consistence direction.
• This region creates various undersea volcanoes and islands those are far from the land and fresh water region.