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An international study comparing data from Heron Reef and the Middle East's Gulf of Aqaba has disproved the long-held theory that coral reefs only have the capacity to emit CO2.
The first-of-its-kind discovery is the result of an international study led by The University of Queensland which found that dust blown in from nearby deserts can convert coral reefs into CO2 sinks.
Professor Hamish McGowan from UQ's School of Earth and Environmental Sciences said the discovery was made after researchers observed a correlation between influxes of CO2 and periods of increased dust concentrations in the atmosphere around the reefs.
"We were surprised at how significant a role dust accumulation played in switching coral reefs from a CO2 source to a CO2 sink," Professor McGowan said.
"This process was previously thought to be impossible, but our research proves otherwise."
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