Reef project to map climate change impact
Mining giant Rio Tinto Alcan and the CSIRO say they are embarking on a million-dollar project to measure the effects of climate change on the Great Barrier Reef off Queensland.
The Future Reef Map project will involve the installation of an ocean sensor on a Rio Tinto ship, which regularly travels to Gladstone from the company's bauxite mine on western Cape York.
The head of the company's bauxite operations, Pat Fiore, says it will measure water acidity, temperature and chemical levels along the length of the reef.
"A piece of gear - a sensor that goes into the water - collects it on an almost continuous basis, feeds the data back into a server," he said.
The CSIRO says the data will help to shed light on the effects of climate change and acidification on reef health, coral growth and fish behaviour.
The equipment will be installed later this year.