The Australian Government's Innovation Report

Coral gives new insight into changing ocean acidity
The rising level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is changing the acidity of oceanic waters.
Researchers from the Australian Institute of Marine Science and the Australian National University have
obtained the first historical insight into changes in ocean acidity and coral growth.
The scientists analysed a core sample from a 300-year-old massive coral on Flinders Reef in the western Coral
Sea and measured its past growth rates by studying the growth rings in the coral. They compared these with
levels of boron isotopes, which provide a marker for ocean acidity. Their results showed ocean acidity rose
and fell approximately every 55 years, coinciding with periodic fluctuations in global climate.
The relatively large variations in seawater acidity experienced at Flinders Reef suggest coral reefs may be
resilient to the short-term effects of ocean acidification. However, in the coming decades many reefs are likely
to experience unnaturally high acidity levels.
Improved understanding of the response of coral reefs to increased acidity and the long-term impacts of
ocean acidification will be important in predicting the effects of climate change on coral reefs and other
marine communities.
Massive corals found throughout Australia’s tropical waters, act like living libraries with coral core samples providing information on weather patterns, terrestrial
run-off and oceanic conditions of the past. Photo credits: E. Matson, AIMS
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation
The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) is Australia’s national nuclear
organisation and the centre of Australian nuclear expertise. Over the past year the organisation has continued
its record of accomplishment with a number of milestones met and exceeded.
In 2005-06, the OPAL reactor’s construction was completed and an operating licence was granted on 14 July by
the regulator, the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, which allowed hot commissioning
to commence. The current ANSTO High Flux Australian Reactor (HIFAR) will be shut down when OPAL
is in routine operation in early 2007.
28 Backing Australia’s Ability