Great Barrier Reef Logging & Sea Level Change

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary and concepts related to the Great Barrier Reef logging and sea level change.

Great Barrier Reef (GBR)

The world's largest coral reef system located off the coast of Queensland, Australia.

IODP Expedition 325

An expedition conducted by the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program to study the geological history of the GBR.

Paleoenvironment

The environment of the past, reconstructed through geological and biological evidence.

Core Logging

The process of recording and analyzing the physical and biological characteristics of sediment cores.

Coral Assemblages

Groups of coral species that live together in a specific area and characterized by environmental conditions.

Relative Sea Level (RSL)

The height of the sea relative to the land at a specific location, influenced by factors like tides and geological uplift.

Last Glacial Maximum (LGM)

The last time Earth's ice sheets were at their maximum extent, approximately 26,500 years ago.

Corelyzer Software

A software tool used for visualizing and analyzing geological core samples.

U-series Dating

A radiometric dating technique used to determine the age of calcium carbonate materials.

14C Dating

A method for determining the age of organic materials by measuring the amount of carbon-14 present.

Geomorphology

The study of landforms and the processes that shape them.

Fledermaus iView 4D Software

Software used for visualizing high resolution bathymetric data and seabed morphology.

Coralline Algae

A type of red algae that contributes to reef formation and is sensitive to environmental changes.

Lithological Facies

Distinctive bodies of sediment or rock characterized by particular features and environments.

Sediment Cores

Cylindrical sections of sediment extracted from the ocean floor used to study historical changes.

Bioerosion

The process by which living organisms break down hard substrates like corals, usually involving trace fossils.

Reef Drowning

A phenomenon where a reef is submerged as sea level rises, potentially leading to its death.

Paleo-water Depth

The estimated depth of water at which ancient organisms lived, important for reconstructing past environments.

Turbidity

A measure of the cloudiness of water due to suspended particles, which can affect coral growth.

Accretion Rate

The rate at which coral reefs grow vertically, influenced by sea level and nutrient availability.

Geopetal Structures

Sedimentary features indicating the original orientation of a sediment layer, used to determine the 'up' position.