These Scientists Drilled Into Coral to Find 400 Years of Ocean History

Veuer

Researchers in Australia used coral samples to calculate historical ocean temperatures going back to the 17th century. Their findings underscored the dangers of climate change. Veuer’s Matt Hoffman has the story.

Transcript

00:00Researchers in Australia are studying the past by looking inside coral.

00:04According to the New York Times, the scientists collected samples

00:07by drilling into some of the oldest coral in the Great Barrier Reef.

00:11By doing so, they were able to calculate historical ocean temperatures

00:14going all the way back to 1618.

00:17They published their findings in the journal Nature on Thursday.

00:20They found that ocean temperatures have been steadily increasing since 1900,

00:24hitting their highest levels this year.

00:26That warming endangers the coral as well as the other organisms

00:29that depend on the coral as part of their ecosystem.

00:32This is study co-author Helen McGregor.

00:34Science is pointing very clearly to the reef being in danger

00:39and elevating that status I think is not blaming any particular government

00:44but it's a rally call to the world

00:46that we need to be reducing our emissions urgently, immediately.

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