Oberdorfer,-J.A.; Buddemeier,-R.W. Climate change: Effects on reef island resources. PROCEEDINGS-OF-THE-SIXTH- INTERNATIONAL-CORAL-REEF-SYMPOSIUM,-TOWNSVILLE,- AUSTRALIA,-8th-12th-AUGUST-1988.-VOLUME-3:-CONTRIBUTED- PAPERS-MINI-SYMPOSIUM-11-16-TO-22. Choat,-J.H.;Barnes,- D.;Borowitzka,-M.A.;Coll,-J.C.;Davies,-P.J.;Flood,- P.;Hatcher,-B.G.;et-al.-eds.. 1988. pp. 523-527. The salinity, depth, quantity, and reliability of fresh ground-water resources on coral reef islands and coastlines are environmentally important parameters. Groundwater influences or controls the terrestrial flora, salinity, and nutrient levels in the near-shore benthic environment, the rate and nature of sediment diagenesis, and the density of human habitation. Data from a number of Indo-Pacific reef islands suggest that freshwater inventory is a function of rainfall and island dimensions. A numerical model (SUTRA) has been used to simulate the responses of atoll island groundwater to changes in recharge (precipitation), sea level, and loss of island area due to flooding.