Introduction

In Chapters 7, 8, and 9, the morphology and evolution of reefs in three zones across the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) shelf have been presented. In part the interpretation has come from the numerous drill holes and dated core materials which have become available in the last 25 years (Tables 7.2, 8.1, and 9.1). The examples cited are but a part of the total dataset which now comprises the drilling of approximately 50 reefs (over 160 holes), a total core length of almost 2000 m through the Holocene, and almost 750 radiocarbon dates. Combined, these data are a powerful tool for the interpretation of Holocene growth patterns across the full extent of the GBR. Given the size, latitudinal, and cross-shelf extent of the GBR, results of such a synthesis may be applicable to many reef areas elsewhere for which the information is less comprehensive. Conversely, interpretations from elsewhere in the Indo-Pacific and Caribbean may be helpful in deciphering the Holocene evolution of the GBR.

Synthesizing the data, for example into growth rates during the Holocene in different environments, was an early goal of drilling in the 1970s and 1980s (Davies and Hopley, 1983; Davies et al., 1985). The dataset then was much less than now, derived from 68 holes drilled in 22 reefs, and 597 radiocarbon dates. Nonetheless, results as published in 1983 appear to be strengthened by further work and where more raw data have been added the results have not been altered significantly.