The Island's rock formations could help solve a future potential environmental catastrophe according to a team of visiting scientists.

For fossils found in a local quarry may help experts predict the patterns of rising sea levels.

Two world renowned geologists are now examining the site at the Government quarry on Bailey's Bay to see if Bermuda could have been completely submerged by the sea 400,000 years ago.

Fossils of sea creatures at the site indicate that the level of the sea surrounding the Island could have been up to 70 feet higher than the current level.

Bermuda Natural History Museum curator Wolfgang Sterrer said that, with sea levels currently rising due to global warming, information gleaned from the quarry could prove useful in predicting how quickly any future rise may occur.

"This is a very important world heritage site -- it's very important when it comes to looking at the geological history of the world during the Ice Age,'' Dr. Sterrer said.

"We have a record that shows that the sea level 400,000 years ago was 22 metres, some 70 feet, higher than it is at the moment.

"If you have marine shells that can be found in rocks 70 feet above the current sea level then you can tell that the sea level was higher then.

"This is a very exciting project. It's important for Bermuda's history because Bermuda has been subjected to these changing sea levels ever since the Ice Age. It means that Bermuda was alternatively a very large area of ground and, at other times, just a few drowned hilltops. That must have had a tremendous affect on the animals and plants that live here.

"There is also a global significance. We know that sea levels are rising at the moment because of global warming. What we need to know is, is this rise going to happen slowly or abruptly, which these rocks indicate. These are some of the implications that we're trying to unravel.'' The two visiting geologists, Dr. Paul Hearty and Dr. Storrs Olson, will present a seminar on their findings at the Aquarium, Museum and Zoo tonight at 8 p.m. Admission is free.

Wolfgang Sterrer: A project with global significance