New research led by the University of Sydney in June 2025 sheds light on the Great Barrier Reef's resilience to rising sea levels. The study, published in Nature Communications, suggests that the reef can withstand rising sea levels in isolation but is vulnerable to associated environmental stressors arising from climate change.
The research draws from fossil reef cores extracted from the seabed, analyzing how the reef ecosystem evolved between 13,000 to 10,000 years ago. Of particular interest was the Meltwater Pulse 1B period, between 11,450 and 11,100 years ago, when sea levels rose rapidly.
The findings indicate that the Great Barrier Reef didn't drown during Meltwater Pulse 1B and continued to thrive. The reef grew upwards at rates comparable to modern healthy reef growth, demonstrating an impressive ability to keep pace with rising sea levels. The research highlights the importance of understanding past reef responses to inform future conservation efforts.