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The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Paper, 'The atoll of Diego Garcia and the coral formations of the Indian Ocean' by Gilbert Charles Bourne

Reference number: PP/11/32

Date: 1888

Description

Bourne writes: 'The whole of the following paper was planned and a great part of it was written when Captain Wharton’s letter appeared in "Nature", on Feb. 23. Captain Wharton has anticipated my objections to the theory put forward by Mr. Murray in explanation of the formation of atolls and barrier reefs, and has suggested that the growth of corals on the periphery of a submerged bank is sufficient to explain the elevated rim of a barrier reef or atoll, and the contained lagoon channel or lagoon. In this I cordially agree with him, and can only express my satisfaction that so eminent an observer should have arrived, after an extended study, at conclusions nearly identical with mine.'

Annotations in pencil and ink. Includes one map of Diego Garcia.

Subject: Geography / Hydrography

Received 12 March 1888. Read 22 March 1888. Communicated by Edwin Ray Lankester.

A version of this paper was published in volume 43 of the Proceedings of the Royal Society as 'The atoll of Diego Garcia and the coral formations of the Indian Ocean'.

Reference number
PP/11/32
Earliest possible date
1888
Physical description
Ink and graphite pencil on paper
Page extent
53 pages
Format
Manuscript
Map

Creator name

Gilbert Charles Bourne

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Citation

Gilbert Charles Bourne, Paper, 'The atoll of Diego Garcia and the coral formations of the Indian Ocean' by Gilbert Charles Bourne, 1888, PP/11/32, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/pp_11_32/paper-the-atoll-of-diego-garcia-and-the-coral-formations-of-the-indian-ocean-by-gilbert-charles-bourne, accessed on 01 December 2024

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https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/pp_11_32/paper-the-atoll-of-diego-garcia-and-the-coral-formations-of-the-indian-ocean-by-gilbert-charles-bourne

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  • Proceedings Papers

    Dates: 1882 - 1894

    The archival collection known as 'Proceedings Papers' is comprised of manuscripts and occasional proofs of scientific papers sent to the Royal Society which were read before meetings of Fellows and printed in full in the Proceedings of the Royal Society.

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