Southern Ocean productivity and carbon dioxide (CO2) exchange under current and future climate regimes. This project will contribute to Australian ocean science expertise in key areas of data synthesis, satellite oceanography and the understanding of marine ecosystems' response to climate change. Collaborations will be developed and strengthened among Australian research institutions, and between Australia and the United States. The focus of the research is the Southern Ocean, which impacts glob ....Southern Ocean productivity and carbon dioxide (CO2) exchange under current and future climate regimes. This project will contribute to Australian ocean science expertise in key areas of data synthesis, satellite oceanography and the understanding of marine ecosystems' response to climate change. Collaborations will be developed and strengthened among Australian research institutions, and between Australia and the United States. The focus of the research is the Southern Ocean, which impacts global climate, and on which Australia's southern coastal ecosystems depend. The expertise and techniques developed will have application to other Australian regional seas.Read moreRead less
Enhanced Weathering – a sustainable tool for CO2 Removal? This project aims to be the first to assess risks and co-benefits of Enhanced Weathering for marine pelagic ecosystems. Enhanced Weathering is a powerful tool that can reduce atmospheric CO2 with significant economic co-benefits. However, it perturbs seawater chemistry and associated impacts on marine ecosystems are unknown. This project expects to combine state-of-the-art field and laboratory research to reveal whether Enhanced Weatherin ....Enhanced Weathering – a sustainable tool for CO2 Removal? This project aims to be the first to assess risks and co-benefits of Enhanced Weathering for marine pelagic ecosystems. Enhanced Weathering is a powerful tool that can reduce atmospheric CO2 with significant economic co-benefits. However, it perturbs seawater chemistry and associated impacts on marine ecosystems are unknown. This project expects to combine state-of-the-art field and laboratory research to reveal whether Enhanced Weathering is a sustainable tool for CO2 Removal. The project provides significant benefits as it builds capacity within the currently emerging research field “ocean-based climate change solutions”. Within this capacity, it will help to identify a sustainable and economically viable future for Australia.Read moreRead less
Ocean fertilisation: a positive effect from Antarctica’s great thaw? This project will evaluate how the Antarctica's great thaw may fertilise the Southern Ocean with iron and help mitigate carbon dioxide emissions now and in the future. The Southern Ocean is anaemic, meaning that the iron levels are too low to sustain photosynthesis, a pathway by which the oceans transform carbon dioxide into carbon-rich sediments. There is evidence that melting ice may supply substantial amount of iron, capable ....Ocean fertilisation: a positive effect from Antarctica’s great thaw? This project will evaluate how the Antarctica's great thaw may fertilise the Southern Ocean with iron and help mitigate carbon dioxide emissions now and in the future. The Southern Ocean is anaemic, meaning that the iron levels are too low to sustain photosynthesis, a pathway by which the oceans transform carbon dioxide into carbon-rich sediments. There is evidence that melting ice may supply substantial amount of iron, capable of boosting marine life and removing carbon dioxide. As polar regions show the earliest and most severe impacts of anthropogenic activity, studying ice-ocean interactions is central to supporting national and international policy development that can effectively limit the worst impacts of climate change globally. Read moreRead less
Predicting and understanding coccolithophorid calcification in a changing ocean. This project will investigate the entire natural coastal and oceanic coccolithophore assemblages. The least and most sensitive species to ocean change will be examined in innovative laboratory experiments and will enhance the understanding of how species-specific responses translate to the ecosystem level, necessary for predictions of future carbon cycling.
Natural iron fertilisation of oceans around Australia: linking terrestrial dust, marine biogeochemistry and climate. Oceans play a vital role in Earth’s climate through the control of atmospheric carbon dioxide. An important component of this system is the iron cycle, in which iron-rich dust is transported from the land via atmosphere to ocean; iron is a key micronutrient for marine phytoplankton, the scarcity of which limits essential biogeochemical processes and ocean fertility. This project w ....Natural iron fertilisation of oceans around Australia: linking terrestrial dust, marine biogeochemistry and climate. Oceans play a vital role in Earth’s climate through the control of atmospheric carbon dioxide. An important component of this system is the iron cycle, in which iron-rich dust is transported from the land via atmosphere to ocean; iron is a key micronutrient for marine phytoplankton, the scarcity of which limits essential biogeochemical processes and ocean fertility. This project will conduct an integrated oceanographic and atmospheric observational program for trace elements in the oceans around Australia. This will provide the critical information on iron supplied from atmospheric dust for ocean productivity and marine ecosystem health, providing the science for predicting a key factor in the future impact of the oceans on climate.Read moreRead less
Unravelling the legacy of groundwater pollution to coastal waters. This project aims to resolve whether groundwater polluted decades ago is now seeping out along shorelines, and driving coastal water quality. The project will challenge common assumptions about the sources of chemical pollution to Australian coastal waters using a combination of cutting-edge analytical techniques, modelling, and laboratory investigations. The outcomes of the project will support the development of pollutant budge ....Unravelling the legacy of groundwater pollution to coastal waters. This project aims to resolve whether groundwater polluted decades ago is now seeping out along shorelines, and driving coastal water quality. The project will challenge common assumptions about the sources of chemical pollution to Australian coastal waters using a combination of cutting-edge analytical techniques, modelling, and laboratory investigations. The outcomes of the project will support the development of pollutant budgets and models required for the effective creation of water management solutions. As a result, the project will benefit the management of iconic waterways experiencing persistent, unresolved water quality issues which are costing the government billions of dollars.Read moreRead less
Dynamics of the Southern Ocean. The Southern Ocean is critically important to future global climate: it controls the natural global carbon cycle and the distribution of heat and nutrients around the ocean. This project will investigate key uncertainties in the Southern Ocean's response to climate change, and thereby improve our capacity to predict future climate.
Microbe-produced repellents and their roles in marine pathogen behaviours. Economic losses caused by disease outbreaks in marine fisheries and aquaculture exceed US$6 billion per year globally. Decades of research in human and plant pathogens have revealed that the ability of pathogens to infect their host is governed by behaviours; however our understanding of the chemical cues affecting the behaviour of marine pathogens is very poor. This research program aims to combine new approaches in micr ....Microbe-produced repellents and their roles in marine pathogen behaviours. Economic losses caused by disease outbreaks in marine fisheries and aquaculture exceed US$6 billion per year globally. Decades of research in human and plant pathogens have revealed that the ability of pathogens to infect their host is governed by behaviours; however our understanding of the chemical cues affecting the behaviour of marine pathogens is very poor. This research program aims to combine new approaches in microfluidics and chemical imaging to identify the cues that govern the behaviour of marine pathogens. Expected outcomes include an improved capacity to predict, monitor and manage marine diseases, as well as novel strategies to prevent disease outbreaks, helping to protect Australia’s valuable marine estate.Read moreRead less
Distribution of ocean heat uptake and its implications for sea level and climate change. Increasing sea levels and ocean temperatures provide critical evidence of long term warming of the climate system. This project will investigate geographical changes in the vertical distribution of heat uptake by the ocean and contribution to sea level changes, including understanding of physical mechanisms and the role of human activity and other natural external and internal factors. The expected outcomes ....Distribution of ocean heat uptake and its implications for sea level and climate change. Increasing sea levels and ocean temperatures provide critical evidence of long term warming of the climate system. This project will investigate geographical changes in the vertical distribution of heat uptake by the ocean and contribution to sea level changes, including understanding of physical mechanisms and the role of human activity and other natural external and internal factors. The expected outcomes will contribute to place more rigorous constraints on the likelihood of future warming and sea level rise projections, and are aligned with scientific deliverables required to address key questions in support of Australia’s climate change policy.Read moreRead less
Predictability of the El Nino-Southern Oscillation. This project aims to improve understanding of the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the world’s largest source of climate variability. ENSO’s effects are so large that knowledge of its current phase and forecasts of its future phase underpin seasonal rainfall, temperature and tropical cyclone forecasts worldwide. In Australia, ENSO cycles cause drought and floods. Using a suite of empirical observations and numerical models to analyse ENSO e ....Predictability of the El Nino-Southern Oscillation. This project aims to improve understanding of the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the world’s largest source of climate variability. ENSO’s effects are so large that knowledge of its current phase and forecasts of its future phase underpin seasonal rainfall, temperature and tropical cyclone forecasts worldwide. In Australia, ENSO cycles cause drought and floods. Using a suite of empirical observations and numerical models to analyse ENSO event precursors, initiation and predictability, this project intends to enhance skill in inter-seasonal climate forecasting and help those sectors reliant on accurate prediction.Read moreRead less