Characterising the tropical "heat engine" of global climate: combined coral, stalagmite and tree-ring records from the Indo-Pacific region

近几十年来，人为的全球变暖导致极地冰盖融化、海平面上升、珊瑚礁白化和退化，严重干旱、洪水、热带气旋/飓风/台风的频率和强度增加，成为全球媒体的头条新闻。我们的研究将加强对全球气候变化、厄尔尼诺Niño和亚洲-澳大利亚季风变异和珊瑚礁退化的理解，并为未来的预测提供改进的知识。其结果将影响我们的国家研究优先事项1：一个环境可持续发展的澳大利亚，加强澳大利亚在珊瑚礁研究方面的领导地位，并有助于改善我们与邻国在科学、教育和培训方面的关系。

The recent anthropogenic global warming is causing polar icecap melting, sea level rise, reef coral bleaching and degradation, and increased frequency and intensity of severe droughts, floods, tropical cyclones/hurricanes/typhoons in the past decades, focusing daily media headlines worldwide. Our study will enhance understanding of global climate change, El Niño and Asian-Australian monsoon variability and coral reef degradation, and provide improved knowledge for future predictions. The outcome will impact on our National Research Priority 1: An Environmentally Sustainable Australia, enhance Australia's leadership in coral reef research, and contribute to an improved relationship with our neighbours in science, education and training.