An Island is the Sum of its Parts

Coastal science often uses conceptual models to describe how landforms are expected to evolve under different pressures. Coral islands challenge the use of general models, as the presence or absence of individual features can affect how each island changes, sometimes with significant differences in the same archipelago. Managing impacts to islands and island communities effectively into the future needs an understanding of each island, with local geomorphology telling a key piece of each island's story.