Scientists to map carbon effect on Barrier Reef

From Sep 6, 2010

From ABC News (Australia) Scientists to map carbon effect on Barrier Reef

Scientists are hoping a new study will help predict how rising levels of carbon dioxide will affect the Great Barrier Reef off Queensland.

University of Queensland researchers want to get a better understanding of how various species of coral, algae and fish will be affected by changes in temperature and acidification.

From Heron Island, off Gladstone in central Queensland, the researchers are using specially designed equipment to measure how the reef will look in the future.

Associate Professor Sophie Dove says tanks in the ocean will measure the effects of acidification and tanks on the land will be filled with organisms to monitor how they respond to the combined effect of temperature and acidification changes.

"We want to actually go and get a sort of Noah's ark of the Reef and put them in," she said.

"People in the past have done temperature, sometimes they've done temperature with acidification but they've never truly matched the temperature they've increased to the acidification scenario that is predicted.

"I feel pretty confident that we're going to be able to make some very good conclusions about what's going to happen to the reef in the future."

The first stage of the study is expected to be completed in 12 months.