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Coral
reefs are some of the most fragile, and yet most diverse environments on
Earth. In a delicate balance between ocean, land, and atmosphere, coral
reefs harbor a third of all marine species. As diverse and sensitive as
it is, the coral reef ecosystem does not only have intrinsic natural
value, as well as economic value for tourism and fishing, but also the
incredible value of recording past climate conditions within the
limestone skeletons of ancient corals. Precious information about past
environmental changes in preserved in many pristine corals around the
world, helping scientists investigate ocean and climate conditions as
far back as tens of thousands years ago.
Chemical analyses of coral skeletons provide impressive insight
into fluctuations in nutrient delivery to the system and fluctuations in
carbon dioxide levels as well as temperatures. Precise age and depth
determination of series of ancient corals also allows for estimates of
regional and global sea level changes. Detailed research on various
aspects of corals and coral reefs can provide immense and crucial
information about the rate and degree of climatological changes observed
in the past. This, in turn, will be quite meaningful for modelling
future sea level and climate change not only in the coral reef areas of
the world, but the whole climate system.
Lida Teneva is a graduate student at LDEO. Originally from Bulgaria, she
graduated from Franklin & Marshall College. Here are Lamont, she has
started her research into climate change with Dr. Rick Fairbanks. To
obtain some of the samples, she has to travel to the Caribbean. As she
explains through her
web page, 'it's a rough job, but someone has to go there!'
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