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Scientists will send an unmanned submersible to track climate change by studying coral at unprecedented depths.
In the United States-Australian project, the submersible will dive to 2.5km in seas south of Tasmania to locate and film live and fossilised deep-sea coral, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation said.
Growth rings on coral reflect changes over centuries and millennia in ocean chemistry and environment, Australia's science agency said.
"Deep ocean corals are a litmus test of the deep ocean when it comes to identifying how temperature and salinity have changed over decades and centuries," said Ron Thresher, chief scientist on the voyage.
The Autonomous Benthic Explorer, on loan from the US, will be launched during the 23-day voyage which leaves Hobart today.
- AAP
