Understanding the deep driving forces of Earth’s large-scale topography through time. We propose to model the convection of Earth’s mantle linked to tectonic plate motions to unravel their combined influence on the evolution of topography over 550 million years. The project will lead to an understanding of the driving forces of large-scale topography in continental interiors and along their margins through geological time.
East Antarctica: subglacial heat flux constraints for ice sheet modelling. This project aims to quantify the heat flux from the East Antarctic continent into the base of the ice sheet via the derivation of a large geochemical database, together with elevation-based modelling and new heat flux measurements in regions formerly contiguous with East Antarctica. This subglacial heat flux is poorly constrained in current ice sheet models, but directly affects ice sheet behaviour. The output of this pr ....East Antarctica: subglacial heat flux constraints for ice sheet modelling. This project aims to quantify the heat flux from the East Antarctic continent into the base of the ice sheet via the derivation of a large geochemical database, together with elevation-based modelling and new heat flux measurements in regions formerly contiguous with East Antarctica. This subglacial heat flux is poorly constrained in current ice sheet models, but directly affects ice sheet behaviour. The output of this project will be a greatly improved heat flux map for East Antarctica that can be used in ice sheet modelling studies. This should drive significant improvement in models for the evolution of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet, resulting in more accurate projections of ice discharge and associated sea level change.Read moreRead less
The global consequences of subduction zone congestion. This project will use a combination of 3D geodynamic modelling, plate kinematic reconstruction and geological and geophysical synthesis to determine how congested subduction zones influence plate kinematics, subduction dynamics and tectonic evolution at orogen and global scales. The project aims to deliver a transformation change in understanding the links between congested subduction, mantle flow, trench migration, crustal growth, transitio ....The global consequences of subduction zone congestion. This project will use a combination of 3D geodynamic modelling, plate kinematic reconstruction and geological and geophysical synthesis to determine how congested subduction zones influence plate kinematics, subduction dynamics and tectonic evolution at orogen and global scales. The project aims to deliver a transformation change in understanding the links between congested subduction, mantle flow, trench migration, crustal growth, transitions between stable convergent margin configurations and deformation in the overriding plates of subduction zones. Determining these relationships is significant because it will provide dynamic context to interpret the geological record of ancient convergent margins, which host a large percentage of Earth's metal resources.Read moreRead less
The link between the deep Earth and its dynamic surface. Modelling the two-way interaction of plate tectonics with the actions of erosion and sedimentation gives a fundamentally new view of the dynamics of our planet and the importance of the surface on the deep interior. It will improve our understanding of the formation of sedimentary basins, their evolution and their preservation over geological time.
NUMERICAL MODELS OF PLATE TECTONICS, MANTLE CONVECTION AND SLAB DYNAMICS WITH EVOLVING FAULTS. We plan to develop a method for simulating large-scale
geological structures with a much improved treatment
of tectonic faults in 3D.
Current computer models have sharp geological faults at plate
boundaries represented by broad, blurred zones. New techniques
for modeling cracks in engineering structures will be scaled up to
the whole Earth.
This will help us to understand how the Earth's p ....NUMERICAL MODELS OF PLATE TECTONICS, MANTLE CONVECTION AND SLAB DYNAMICS WITH EVOLVING FAULTS. We plan to develop a method for simulating large-scale
geological structures with a much improved treatment
of tectonic faults in 3D.
Current computer models have sharp geological faults at plate
boundaries represented by broad, blurred zones. New techniques
for modeling cracks in engineering structures will be scaled up to
the whole Earth.
This will help us to understand how the Earth's plates move and
interact now and in the past and how the structure of the continents
arose.
Not only is this intrinsically interesting, it
will also be of immediate practical benefit to geological modelers.Read moreRead less
Three dimensional geospatial model of the Australian continent from geologically constrained inverse modelling of the Earth's gravity and magnetic fields. This project enhances Australia's reputation in integration of geology and geophysics and will create a three dimensional model of the Australian crust that will image and define the geometry of the fundamental building blocks of the continent. The outcomes will create new concepts for resource exploration and hazard recognition.
Thermal structure and evolution of the Australian continent. Australia contains 40% of the world's known uranium resources. Uranium, with thorium and potassium, are heat-producing elements which affect the way temperature varies within the Earth. Outcomes from this project will lead to a better understanding of the potential for geothermal energy in Australia and provide a framework for assessing Australia's uranium resource. Understanding the crustal thermal regime is also fundamental to our kn ....Thermal structure and evolution of the Australian continent. Australia contains 40% of the world's known uranium resources. Uranium, with thorium and potassium, are heat-producing elements which affect the way temperature varies within the Earth. Outcomes from this project will lead to a better understanding of the potential for geothermal energy in Australia and provide a framework for assessing Australia's uranium resource. Understanding the crustal thermal regime is also fundamental to our knowledge of many earth processes. The project will enhance Australia's international research standing, provide training for an early career researcher and contribute to the development of an environmentally sustainable Australia, a National research priority.Read moreRead less
Airborne electromagnetic estimation of groundwater quality and distribution in the top 100m of the earth. This research will develop processing methodology to predict groundwater concentration and quality in the top 100m of the earth, using continuously sampled airborne electromagnetic data. The method to be developed will process received responses to separate and identify propagation delays, distinct from the usual diffusive delays caused by shallow conductive materials. The extracted propagat ....Airborne electromagnetic estimation of groundwater quality and distribution in the top 100m of the earth. This research will develop processing methodology to predict groundwater concentration and quality in the top 100m of the earth, using continuously sampled airborne electromagnetic data. The method to be developed will process received responses to separate and identify propagation delays, distinct from the usual diffusive delays caused by shallow conductive materials. The extracted propagation delays then predict ground moisture content. With proposed changes to transmitter hardware, we can also achieve improved shallow resolution of conductive structures, such as shallow saline groundwater layers. However, the new method will pioneer the remote detection of fresh waters.Read moreRead less
Accurately locating the depth and distribution of saline waters with improved shallow conductivity sounding using broadcast radio transmissions. Conductivity meters such as the EM31 are in routine use for mapping shallow salinity, but provide no depth information. This research will provide methodology using broadcast radio transmissions to additionally provide the depth information needed to interpret shallow layering and inhomogeneity. Instruments will initially be tested on the ground, but a ....Accurately locating the depth and distribution of saline waters with improved shallow conductivity sounding using broadcast radio transmissions. Conductivity meters such as the EM31 are in routine use for mapping shallow salinity, but provide no depth information. This research will provide methodology using broadcast radio transmissions to additionally provide the depth information needed to interpret shallow layering and inhomogeneity. Instruments will initially be tested on the ground, but are ultimately intended to be applied from the air, where existing systems have no resolution in the top 5 m. The method will provide crucial root-zone data for precision agriculture in salt-affected areas, and address accurate salt mapping issues in the major efforts to combat Australia's salinity problems.Read moreRead less
Intraplate volcanism near lateral slab edges: result of deep mantle plumes or slab rollback-induced mantle flow? This project investigates how the Earth's interior (the mantle) flows near edges of tectonic plates as these plates sink into the mantle. This is important because these flows have been crucial in shaping the Southwest Pacific region bordering Australia and might be responsible for the formation of some of the largest volcanoes on Earth.