The Integrated Ocean Drilling Program has begun accepting applications for scientific participation on the Great Barrier Reef Expedition.  Coral reefs are excellent sea-level indicators and are critical for constraining the
timing, rate, and amplitude of deglaciation events.   This expedition aims
to: (1) establish the course of sea-level rise during the last deglaciation (~20-10 ka), (2) reconstruct the nature and magnitude of seasonal-millennial scale climate variability (i.e., sea-surface temperature and sea-surface salinity), and (3) determine the biologic and geologic response of the Great Barrier Reef to abrupt sea-level and climate changes in the past as a possible template to improve predictions of ecosystem response to future global climate changes.

U.S.-affiliated scientists interested in participating in this expedition should apply to sail through the U.S. Science Support Program of the Consortium for Ocean Leadership by August 15, 2008.  More Information

http://www.oceanleadership.org/usssp/participation/sail