Continental temperature and rainfall change during past global warming - a multiproxy approach involving clumped isotopes in speleothems. Global climate simulation and prediction models depend on accurate and quantitative measurements of key climatic parameters such as temperature and rainfall, and their temporal changes and spatial distributions. Our research will combine the revolutionary clumped isotope thermometry with other climatic proxies archived in stalagmites to quantify temperature an ....Continental temperature and rainfall change during past global warming - a multiproxy approach involving clumped isotopes in speleothems. Global climate simulation and prediction models depend on accurate and quantitative measurements of key climatic parameters such as temperature and rainfall, and their temporal changes and spatial distributions. Our research will combine the revolutionary clumped isotope thermometry with other climatic proxies archived in stalagmites to quantify temperature and rainfall changes in Australia and China during the past two major episodes of global warming (Terminations I and II). This pilot project directly addresses national research priority goals 'Water - a critical resource', 'Responding to climate change and variability', provide an excellent platform for cross-institutional research training and enhance scientific exchange with China.Read moreRead less
Chemostat experiments to mimic toxic environments associated with mass extinction events. This project will help scientists understand past climate changes and understand the mechanisms of global warming. This in turn will improve our ability to forecast future climate change, and help Australia manage current threats to its biodiversity. Importantly, this project will enable students and young professionals to be trained in state-of-the-art technologies, leading to quality scientists ready for ....Chemostat experiments to mimic toxic environments associated with mass extinction events. This project will help scientists understand past climate changes and understand the mechanisms of global warming. This in turn will improve our ability to forecast future climate change, and help Australia manage current threats to its biodiversity. Importantly, this project will enable students and young professionals to be trained in state-of-the-art technologies, leading to quality scientists ready for employment in geoscience industries, and raising the profile of science careers in Australia.Read moreRead less
Mid-Holocene coral reef bleaching and recovery in the South China Sea and its implications for the modern Great Barrier Reef. Strong evidence shows the mid-Holocene was 1-2 ºC warmer than the present, implying a greater probability for coral bleaching. We have collected well-preserved mid-Holocene reef corals from the northern South China Sea, which contain growth hiatuses reflecting bleaching and mortality. We propose to use high-resolution Sr/Ca, d18O and microstructure analysis and high-preci ....Mid-Holocene coral reef bleaching and recovery in the South China Sea and its implications for the modern Great Barrier Reef. Strong evidence shows the mid-Holocene was 1-2 ºC warmer than the present, implying a greater probability for coral bleaching. We have collected well-preserved mid-Holocene reef corals from the northern South China Sea, which contain growth hiatuses reflecting bleaching and mortality. We propose to use high-resolution Sr/Ca, d18O and microstructure analysis and high-precision U-series dating of coral growth bands to determine the season and sea-surface temperature when each growth hiatus occurred and to establish the timing and duration of the growth hiatus. Reconstructed mid-Holocene coral bleaching history has important implications for management of the Great Barrier Reef during predicted global warming.Read moreRead less
In-situ solubility and speciation studies in super-critical H2O-NaCl-CO2 mixtures using synchrotron radiation. Understanding the physics and chemistry of metals in hypersaline and supercritical solutions represents a major scientific challenge with wide-ranging applications in the fields of mineral processing, economic geology, or CO2 sequestration. The advent of very bright sources of x-rays (synchrotrons) and development of spectroscopic cells that can contain corrosives samples at high pressu ....In-situ solubility and speciation studies in super-critical H2O-NaCl-CO2 mixtures using synchrotron radiation. Understanding the physics and chemistry of metals in hypersaline and supercritical solutions represents a major scientific challenge with wide-ranging applications in the fields of mineral processing, economic geology, or CO2 sequestration. The advent of very bright sources of x-rays (synchrotrons) and development of spectroscopic cells that can contain corrosives samples at high pressure and temperature allow for the first time the in-situ observation of these solutions. This project creates strong link between Australian and French scientists. By sharing the know-how developed at the European Synchrotron Research Facility, we aim to create a world-class facility at the Australian Synchrotron that will open in Melbourne in 2007.Read moreRead less