Why can a rapid rise in sea level drown a barrier reef and eliminate its lagoon?

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coral reef The Great Barrier Reef, off the coast of Queensland, Australia, is the world's largest coral reef.

A barrier reef relies on the ability of coral to maintain its growth at a suitable level relative to the sea surface as its foundation subsides or as sea levels change. The existence of a lagoon depends on this barrier, which provides a sheltered environment protected from direct wave action.1234

If the sea level rises too rapidly, the coral may be unable to keep pace with the increasing depth. When this occurs, the reef structure becomes "drowned"—meaning it is submerged to a depth where the coral can no longer thrive or maintain its upward growth. Because the reef is no longer able to function as a protective barrier at the surface, the sheltered, quiet water environment of the lagoon is lost to the open ocean, effectively eliminating the lagoon.14