Table 1. Energy inputs into a coral reef based on data from East Africa (McClanahan 1990).

Energy input
Actual energy (joules·m-2·y-1)
Solar energy
7.1E+9
Waves, absorbed
9.9E+8
Currents, kinetic
6.6E+8
Tides
1.1E+8
Rain, physical
3.1E+4