Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/D000025/1
Evaluating effects of the Asian tsunami on coral reefs of western Thailand
Grant Award
- Principal Investigator:
- Professor BE Brown, Newcastle University, Sch of Biology
- Grant held at:
- Newcastle University, Sch of Biology
- Science Area:
- Marine
- Overall Classification:
- Marine
- ENRIs:
- Natural Resource Management
- Environmental Risks and Hazards
- Biodiversity
- Science Topics:
- Survey & Monitoring
- Community Ecology
- Regional & Extreme Weather
- Abstract:
- The recent Asian tsunami has taken many human lives but its effects may have been much worse if many of the coastlines in the Indian Ocean were not protected by coral reefs. These reefs act as sea defences and can absorb as much as 68% of wave energy on a low tide and up to 77% on a high tide. In Thailand, where this study would be based, the reefs are important not only in coastal protection but also in promotion of tourism. Not surprisingly there is now concern about how the reefs might have fared during the recent tsunami. Preliminary surveys suggest that there has been some breakage of branching coral, toppling over of boulder corals and evidence of sediment covering coral surfaces. To accurately measure the effects of the tsunami we need to have good information about the condition of the coral reefs before the tsunami waves hit the reefs. We have worked at Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) in Thailand for over 26 years and have regularly measured important reef characteristics, such as coral cover and diversity, on selected reefs over this time. On some reefs we have permanently marked areas which have been photographed, sometimes twice a year, over this period. Our aim is to return to these locations and repeat our measurements and photography so that we can assess the changes that have taken place between the last survey in November 2004 and early 2005. We would also work with Thai scientists at PMBC who have much unpublished base-line information on other reefs in the area to obtain an overview of potential damage and the time-scale for recovery of reefs over a wide area. In addition we plan to restore vital instruments for measuring physical variables such as sea temperature and light levels which were destroyed. These measurements are valuable to all scientists working at the PMBC and have been essential for improved interpretation of global climate change effects on coral reefs e.g bleaching or loss of coral colour / a stress response of corals due to the combined effects of high water temperature and sunlight .
- NERC Reference:
- NE/D000025/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Standard Grants Pre FEC
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Urgency
This grant award has a total value of £10,680
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - T&S | Total - Other Costs | Total - Equipment |
|---|---|---|
| £4,577 | £851 | £5,252 |
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