Tracking the response of terrestrial and ocean waters to climate variations using space gravity observations. Climate change puts Australia at risk from sea level rise and an increase in the occurrence and intensity of droughts. We need to learn about issues concerning the water cycle that are still poorly understood, such as whether droughts cause a reduction in only surface water or also water stored in underground reservoirs and what happens to ocean waters when thermal expansion causes an in ....Tracking the response of terrestrial and ocean waters to climate variations using space gravity observations. Climate change puts Australia at risk from sea level rise and an increase in the occurrence and intensity of droughts. We need to learn about issues concerning the water cycle that are still poorly understood, such as whether droughts cause a reduction in only surface water or also water stored in underground reservoirs and what happens to ocean waters when thermal expansion causes an increase in sea surface height in some regions but not others. This proposal will provide new and accurate scientific information on the risks of sea level rise through the effects of thermal expansion of the oceans, in particular in shallow coastal zones. It will help us to understand droughts, variations in water resources and groundwater recharge patterns.Read moreRead less
Resolving uncertainty over the importance of N-fixation versus denitrification in coastal systems. Nutrient enrichment of coastal waters is a significant national and international problem requiring urgent action. Despite many studies and many millions of dollars in research funding we know virtually nothing about the relative importance of the major nitrogen cycling pathways, N-fixation and denitrification. Many hundred's of millions of dollars are likely to be spent over the next ten years on ....Resolving uncertainty over the importance of N-fixation versus denitrification in coastal systems. Nutrient enrichment of coastal waters is a significant national and international problem requiring urgent action. Despite many studies and many millions of dollars in research funding we know virtually nothing about the relative importance of the major nitrogen cycling pathways, N-fixation and denitrification. Many hundred's of millions of dollars are likely to be spent over the next ten years on the management of nitrogen enrichment of Australia's coastal waters. This study will use a new method for directly measuring N-fixation to resolve uncertainty over the importance of N-fixation versus denitrification in coastal systems; information which is critical for the efficient allocation of management resources.Read moreRead less
The Indian Ocean Dipole, Australasian drought, and the great-earthquake cycle: Long-term perspectives for improved prediction. The protracted drought across Australia and Boxing Day 2004 earthquake in Sumatra defied prediction, and are causing incalculable environmental, economic, and social harm. Knowledge of past climate extremes will enhance our ability to predict climate change, and alleviate adverse affects for Australasian nations who miss-out in the future redistribution of life-giving mo ....The Indian Ocean Dipole, Australasian drought, and the great-earthquake cycle: Long-term perspectives for improved prediction. The protracted drought across Australia and Boxing Day 2004 earthquake in Sumatra defied prediction, and are causing incalculable environmental, economic, and social harm. Knowledge of past climate extremes will enhance our ability to predict climate change, and alleviate adverse affects for Australasian nations who miss-out in the future redistribution of life-giving moisture. Insights into the great-earthquake cycle will help fulfil Australia's responsibility to predict tsunamis, for the benefit of nations fringing Australasian seismotectonic zones. Development of improved techniques in palaeoclimatology, palaeoclimate modelling, and palaeoseismology will provide new collaborations and opportunities for research, training, and education.Read moreRead less
Quantifying the El Niño-Indian Ocean Dipole system using high-resolution coral palaeoclimate archives. The ocean surrounding Indonesia is the warmest on Earth and a major source of energy for global atmospheric circulation. Understanding the role of the Warm Pool in future climate change is of key importance, but highly controversial because the potential extent of its variability is largely unknown. To address this issue, this project will provide the first major geochemical investigation of ....Quantifying the El Niño-Indian Ocean Dipole system using high-resolution coral palaeoclimate archives. The ocean surrounding Indonesia is the warmest on Earth and a major source of energy for global atmospheric circulation. Understanding the role of the Warm Pool in future climate change is of key importance, but highly controversial because the potential extent of its variability is largely unknown. To address this issue, this project will provide the first major geochemical investigation of recently discovered ancient corals in Indonesia using state-of-the-art microanalytical techniques. Outcomes from these palaeoclimate records will advance our understanding of global climate change, rainfall variability related to the El Nino - Indian Ocean Dipole system, and Australian drought.Read moreRead less
Wave-by-wave bed-level changes at the beachface of gravel and sand beaches. Australia's coastline is one of this country's greatest natural, cultural and economic resources. Recent experiences internationally have shown that in a changing climate, coastal erosion is a real and growing threat to the present-day sustainability of our coasts. Innovative instrumentation developed by our team now enables fundamental erosion and accretion processes to be quantified for the first time. Working within t ....Wave-by-wave bed-level changes at the beachface of gravel and sand beaches. Australia's coastline is one of this country's greatest natural, cultural and economic resources. Recent experiences internationally have shown that in a changing climate, coastal erosion is a real and growing threat to the present-day sustainability of our coasts. Innovative instrumentation developed by our team now enables fundamental erosion and accretion processes to be quantified for the first time. Working within the framework of two collaborative, fully-integrated, international research programs commencing in 2007 and 2008, this study will place Australia at the forefront of break-through coastal research, leading to rapid advances in the scientific, engineering and operational understanding and modelling of coastal change.Read moreRead less
Submarine springs in the Great Barrier Reef Lagoon: the geological origin, physical properties and ecological significance of Wonky Holes. This project investigates submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) to the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) lagoon. As groundwaters often contain high loads of nutrients and other pollutants, point source SGDs called Wonky Holes, reputedly common yet scientifically unexplored in the GBR or elsewhere, may represent a significant pathway for the land-sea flux of these mat ....Submarine springs in the Great Barrier Reef Lagoon: the geological origin, physical properties and ecological significance of Wonky Holes. This project investigates submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) to the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) lagoon. As groundwaters often contain high loads of nutrients and other pollutants, point source SGDs called Wonky Holes, reputedly common yet scientifically unexplored in the GBR or elsewhere, may represent a significant pathway for the land-sea flux of these materials. This project will define the incidence and origin of Wonky Holes and determine the magnitude and physical and chemical properties of their discharge. These studies will advance our understanding of land-sea interactions, assist management of the GBR and improve regional hydrogeological models.Read moreRead less
The stratigraphic architecture of continental margins (MARGINS). The project seeks to increase our understanding of how continental margins develop. Emphasis is given to studying the controls exerted on sedimentation by sea-level change, climate cycling, ocean front location, current-deposition and tectonics, using the southwest Pacific (temperate eastern NZ) as the prime fieldwork area. Sediment being transported across continental margins passes through a number of energy fences (e.g. piedmont ....The stratigraphic architecture of continental margins (MARGINS). The project seeks to increase our understanding of how continental margins develop. Emphasis is given to studying the controls exerted on sedimentation by sea-level change, climate cycling, ocean front location, current-deposition and tectonics, using the southwest Pacific (temperate eastern NZ) as the prime fieldwork area. Sediment being transported across continental margins passes through a number of energy fences (e.g. piedmont, shoreline, wave-base, storm-zone, shelf-edge), which together modulate sediment transport and deposition. These fences differ in their relative positions, magnitudes and effects on different margins. The research will combine onland and offshore studies, builds on data collected during ODP Leg 181, and is integrated with the international MARGINS "source to sink" program.Read moreRead less
Interactions between small scale cyclones and sea ice and their role in the Southern Ocean climate system. The Southern Ocean cyclone belt has a strong influence on Australian weather and climate. This project will allow improvements in the understanding of intense small scale cyclones in the region. Importantly, the research will highlight key sensitivities in the coupling between these atmospheric circulations and the underlying sea ice. Further, the compilation of an updated Southern Ocean cy ....Interactions between small scale cyclones and sea ice and their role in the Southern Ocean climate system. The Southern Ocean cyclone belt has a strong influence on Australian weather and climate. This project will allow improvements in the understanding of intense small scale cyclones in the region. Importantly, the research will highlight key sensitivities in the coupling between these atmospheric circulations and the underlying sea ice. Further, the compilation of an updated Southern Ocean cyclone climatology will provide a basis for evaluating future changes in cyclone distribution and frequency of occurrence in the Antarctic region. Finally, by leading this unique international collaboration with German and US scientists, the profile of Australian scientists in Antarctic atmospheric research will be strongly enhanced.Read moreRead less
The role of pulsed water events in structuring marine benthic communities along the southern Australian coastline. Marked differences in benthic community structure have been observed that are associated with pulsed cold-water events, possibly driven by internal wave phenomena. Such events have the potential to act as very important controls on both regional and local patterns of benthic biodiversity. To date, however, their effects and mechanisms of action have never been examined in Australi ....The role of pulsed water events in structuring marine benthic communities along the southern Australian coastline. Marked differences in benthic community structure have been observed that are associated with pulsed cold-water events, possibly driven by internal wave phenomena. Such events have the potential to act as very important controls on both regional and local patterns of benthic biodiversity. To date, however, their effects and mechanisms of action have never been examined in Australia. The fundamental outcome from this project will be the first assessment of the occurrence, geographical extent and ecological consequences of pulsed water phenomena along the southern Australian coastline.Read moreRead less