The first global map of tropical shallow water has been created through joint effort of NASA and NOAA. Nearly 44,000 SeaWiFS (Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-View Sensor) scenes collected over five years were processed to 1 sq.km cells by NASA Space Flight Center using algorithms developed by NOAA for water shallower than 20-30 meters. NOAA is working with the UNEP World Consdervation Monitoring Centre to use this data set to improve the database of coral reef locations used in ReefBase.
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by Townsville, Queensland, Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) News Online
05 July 2005
DNA samples reveal new dolphin species
Two north Queensland researchers have identified a new species of dolphin in Australian waters. The Australian snubfin dolphin lives in shallow coastal waters in northern Australia and possibly Papua New Guinea. It initially was thought to have been an Irrawady dolphin, usually found in Asia and Australia. But researcher Isabel Beasley, a PhD student from Townsville's James Cook University, says DNA samples and skull measurements have proved otherwise. News story has audio clip. Photo credit: Isabel Beasley.
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