Coral reefs are the largest landforms built by plants and animals. Their study therefore incorporates a wide range of disciplines. This encyclopedia approaches coral reefs from an earth science perspective, concentrating especially on modern reefs. Currently coral reefs are under high stress, most prominently from climate change with changes to water temperature, sea level and ocean acidification particularly damaging. Modern reefs have evolved through the massive environmental changes of the Quaternary with long periods of exposure during glacially lowered sea level periods and short periods of interglacial growth. The entries in this encyclopedia condense the large amount of work carried out since Charles Darwin first attempted to understand reef evolution. Leading authorities from many countries have contributed to the entries covering areas of geology, geography and ecology, providing comprehensive access to the most up-to-date research on the structure, form and processes operating on Quaternary coral reefs.

The book provides a pre-settlement historical account of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island in their Indian Ocean context. The project began as a search for clues to locations of two 18th century Dutch shipwrecks, and was expanded into a general account of the early island histories and associated mythological Indian Ocean islands and creatures.

Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Pages: 24. Chapters: .cc, Banknotes of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Bantam, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Brian Lacy, Carl Alexander Gibson-Hill, Cocos (Keeling) Islands Airport, Cocos Buff-banded Rail, Cocos Islands Mutiny, Cocos Malay, Cocos Malays, Demographics of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Fauna of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Flag of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Gratien Fernando, Home Island, Horsburgh Island, Index of Cocos (Keeling) Islands-related articles, ISO 3166-2: CC, John William Stokes, King of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, List of populated places in the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, List of Presidents of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire Council, Muirfield reef, North Keeling, Orang Cocos, Postage stamps and postal history of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Shire of Cocos, Supreme Court of Cocos (Keeling) Island, Telephone numbers in the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Transport in the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, West Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Women in the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. Excerpt: The Territory of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, also called Cocos Islands and Keeling Islands, is a territory of Australia, located in the Indian Ocean, southwest of Christmas Island and approximately midway between Australia and Sri Lanka. The territory consists of two atolls and 27 coral islands, of which two, West Island and Home Island, are inhabited with a total population of approximately 600. The Cocos (Keeling) Islands consist of two flat, low-lying coral atolls with an area of 14.2 square kilometres (5.5 sq mi), 26 kilometres (16 mi) of coastline, a highest elevation of 5 metres (16 ft) and thickly covered with coconut palms and other vegetation. The climate is pleasant, moderated by the southeast trade winds for about nine months of the year and with moderate rainfall. Cyclones may occur in the early months of the year. North Keeling Island..