Scientists explore mysteries of global sea-level rise

Scientists scrutinize samples taken from the reefs ringing Tahiti. They hope to learn about changes in sea level during the past 20,000 years.

Since February 13th, 26 scientists from ten nations work in the Bremen Core Repository of the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP). The researchers analyze 632 metres of cores, each six centimetres wide, which contain fossil corals. The cores were drilled last October and November off Tahiti during a very extensive geoscientific research expedition (IODP Expedition 310 Tahiti Sea Level). It was the second international mission proposed and operated by the European Consortium for Ocean Research Drilling (ECORD) under the auspices of IODP.

By examining the corals the IODP research team will learn, with unprecedented accuracy, more about the timing and course of global sea level changes since the climax of the last ice age 20.000 years ago. This may help to understand present and future sea level rise related to global warming. The scientists also expect the corals to provide information on sea surface temperature changes, especially for climatic anomalies such as El Niño/Southern Oscillation events during that period.

The co-chief scientists of the expedition from France (Gilbert Camoin, CEREGE) and Japan (Yasufumi Iryu, Tohoku University) shall present the results of their exciting investigations during an international media conference. We heartily invite you to take part. You are also welcome to visit the core repository and labs to get an impression of how advanced climate research is conducted:

Media conference
Thursday, March 2nd 2006, 11 am
University of Bremen
MARUM-Building
Leobener Straße

We kindly ask you to register by sending an email or phone to:

Further information: www.ecord.org/exp/tahiti/310.html