Fossils proof past sea changes

Fossilised coral reefs in the Great Barrier Reef could help out scientists understand how sea levels have altered over the past 20,000 years. An international group of researchers will spend 45 days at sea, get-together core samples from about 40 sites.

Described as the "trees of the sea", coral have development rings that show seasonal variations. Researchers say the samples will also shed light going on past sea temperatures, as well as other changes toward the reef.

Alan Stevenson, team head of marine geology at the British Geological Survey (BGS), which is involved in the project, said the fossilised corals' annual growth rings provided an imminent to conditions under waves.

"We can then analyze those rings to build up an incredibly detailed picture of what the ocean was like when they were forming, with temperature and salinity.

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