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.