Theory 18/Sherwood Number/Coral calcification
Calcification Is a Boundary Problem
The claim
Coral calcification rate is set by the Sherwood number at the tissue surface, so flow conditions change calcification independently of saturation state.
01Mechanism
Calcification consumes alkalinity at the surface; supply from the bulk depends on boundary layer transport, which flow sets.
02Prediction
Calcification should track Sherwood at equal saturation.
03Refutation
Calcification tracking saturation alone would remove flow.