Talk:Atoll
This page has a great deal of text that appears to be extensively (if not entirely) plagerized from some old textbook (the style is very olde English). Beyond the section describing (in some places incorrectly) the relationship between volcanoes and atolls, the next two sections on volcanoes and diatoms bear NO relationship to the subject of atolls. I suggest complete removal of the page (owing to lack of attribution), returning to the earliest, single line definition to refleshed from there. Marshman 02:25 26 Jul 2003 (UTC)
I've since replaced the old plagerized stuff with new content to cover the subject Marshman 17:41 28 Jul 2003 (UTC)
Marshman, you have done good job on the article, it is certainly an improvement over what was orginally here. I just have a query about the statement that atolls are limited to the oceanic basins of the Pacific and Indian oceans. I thought they could also be found in the Atlantic ocean such as Rocas Atoll of the coast of Brazil. -- Popsracer 00:08 29 Jul 2003 (UTC)
I am starting a new paragraph on atoll distribution and admit to being a bit out on a limb there. I woulld want to know more about Rocas Atoll and perhaps a few others associated with the Great Barrier Reef before proceeding down the interesting road of the relationship between atolls and oceanic hot-spots. Any help appreciated. Your catches on my contribution have been right on. Marshman 00:49, 29 Jul 2003 (UTC) I found some papers on Rocas Atoll and others in the Atlantic. These are not without controversy about whether or not true atolls, but a good case can be made. I'll work something up 24.94.86.252 02:58, 29 Jul 2003 (UTC)...That's me, my log-in timed-out I guess Marshman 03:00, 29 Jul 2003 (UTC)
Some contributors are wandering off the subject, or are not aware of the definition of an atoll. The amount of land area is not pertinent. Indeed, Christmas Atoll has the largest land area of any atoll, and that fact makes it less of a true atoll than atolls with very little land above sea level. There are no or perhaps only one or two true atolls in the Atlantic. This fact is widely debated. A few islands appear close to being atolls, and some scientists accept them as such. Bermuda is not one of these. Submerged banks are somewhat of a problem because they deviate from the ideal form, but if their mode of formation is correct as per Darwin, then these are either atolls or submerged atolls. - Marshman 04:54, 28 Apr 2005 (UTC)
The confusion about largest this and largest that results because someone missed a critical point in the definitions: the size of an atoll is the sum of its reef and lagoon areas (not lagoon and "land" areas). Land on atolls is material thrown by waves onto the reef, and therefore typically counted as part of reef area. Knowing land area (important obviously to human inhabitants) is of no value in these calculations. However a large lagoon, because it is typically surrounded by a reef, does indicate a large atoll. - Marshman 18:05, 28 Apr 2005 (UTC)
Coral island
What is the difference between coral island and atoll? -Indolences 18:01, 27 March 2007 (UTC)
Northernmost atoll & strict definitions
Several authorities on the Florida Keys claim that Marquesas Key between Key West and the Dry Tortugas is the Northernmost atoll. See, for example, http://www.nwrc.usgs.gov/factshts/047-02.pdf ("Marquesas Atoll") Verify?
Also, do prehistoric meteor strikes ever qualify as atolls, or is an atoll strictly a volcanic/erosion formation?