Volcanology of voluminous felsic lavas. Eruptions of voluminous lavas (>100km3)have occurred throughout geological time but not in recorded human history. These lavas are a major part of very large volcanic areas that form the continents. Excellent examples have been identified in the Gawler Range Volcanics, South Australia. Little is known about the eruption mechanisms and yet these events are the key to understanding large-scale melting processes deep in the Earth and continent formation. This ....Volcanology of voluminous felsic lavas. Eruptions of voluminous lavas (>100km3)have occurred throughout geological time but not in recorded human history. These lavas are a major part of very large volcanic areas that form the continents. Excellent examples have been identified in the Gawler Range Volcanics, South Australia. Little is known about the eruption mechanisms and yet these events are the key to understanding large-scale melting processes deep in the Earth and continent formation. This research will use field data from one of the South Australian examples to constrain the nature and position of the source volcanic centre and to clarify outflow mechanisms.Read moreRead less
3D seismic velocity structure for geothermal exploration: a novel approach combining ambient and passive seismic methods. Australia hosts many geological locations that have the potential for geothermal energy production. This is a sustainable power resource and employs diverse technological approaches depending on local conditions. We aim to pilot a new seismic imaging method, which could become a standard in geothermal exploration around the world, to investigate natural heat sources buried ....3D seismic velocity structure for geothermal exploration: a novel approach combining ambient and passive seismic methods. Australia hosts many geological locations that have the potential for geothermal energy production. This is a sustainable power resource and employs diverse technological approaches depending on local conditions. We aim to pilot a new seismic imaging method, which could become a standard in geothermal exploration around the world, to investigate natural heat sources buried in the crust. Tasmania is an ideal pilot location with active geothermal exploration tenements held by a locally-based company.Read moreRead less
Tectonic paradox of the E margin of the Australian plate, 120 - 45 Ma. Available geological evidence indicates that massive extension of continental crust occurred from 120-45 million years ago at the eastern margin of the Australian plate. In contrast, global plate movement models indicate that there was convergence between the Pacific and Australian plates, implying subduction and island arc magmatism. We propose a marine research expedition to dredge rocks from scarps of the submarine ridges ....Tectonic paradox of the E margin of the Australian plate, 120 - 45 Ma. Available geological evidence indicates that massive extension of continental crust occurred from 120-45 million years ago at the eastern margin of the Australian plate. In contrast, global plate movement models indicate that there was convergence between the Pacific and Australian plates, implying subduction and island arc magmatism. We propose a marine research expedition to dredge rocks from scarps of the submarine ridges east of Australia. Geochemical signatures and dating of the dredged rocks should elucidate the geological evolution of this region, improve our understanding of eastern Australian geology, and better define Australia's Maritime Jurisdiction Zone along the eastern seaboard.Read moreRead less
Looking back to see the future: Change in the Lambert Glacier and the East Antarctic Ice Sheet. To develop a comprehensive understanding of the Lambert Glacier of East Antarctica, from the time of the last maximum glaciation to the present, through an integrated and interdisciplinary study combining new field evidence - ice retreat history, geodetic measurements of crustal rebound, satellite measurements of present ice heights and changes therein - with other geological and glaciological data an ....Looking back to see the future: Change in the Lambert Glacier and the East Antarctic Ice Sheet. To develop a comprehensive understanding of the Lambert Glacier of East Antarctica, from the time of the last maximum glaciation to the present, through an integrated and interdisciplinary study combining new field evidence - ice retreat history, geodetic measurements of crustal rebound, satellite measurements of present ice heights and changes therein - with other geological and glaciological data and numerical geophysical modelling advances. The project contributes to the quantitative characterisation of the complex interactions between ice-sheets, oceans and solid earth within the climate system. Outcomes have implications for geophysics, glaciology, geomorphology, climate, and past and future sea-level change.Read moreRead less
Unmixing in Magmas: Melt and Fluid Inclusion Constraints on Identity, Timing, and Evolution of Immiscible Fluids, Salt and Sulphide Melts. Much of the research proposed herein genuinely breaks new ground in both the fields of igneous petrology and ore deposit geology. It will contribute to Australia maintaining a leading role (as identified in "Towards 2005 - a prospectus for research and training in the Australian Earth sciences") in the burgeoning field of melt inclusion research, and serve as ....Unmixing in Magmas: Melt and Fluid Inclusion Constraints on Identity, Timing, and Evolution of Immiscible Fluids, Salt and Sulphide Melts. Much of the research proposed herein genuinely breaks new ground in both the fields of igneous petrology and ore deposit geology. It will contribute to Australia maintaining a leading role (as identified in "Towards 2005 - a prospectus for research and training in the Australian Earth sciences") in the burgeoning field of melt inclusion research, and serve as a training base for young researchers keen to learn the techniques and methodologies involved. The possible outcomes of the project are of wide interest to geoscientists, and may benefit the Australian economy in that they help to predict whether the magmas have experienced exsolution of a metal-rich fluid.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354683
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$10,000.00
Summary
Ocean Discovery Network. The ODN will focus research on Australia's vast marine jurisdiction by:
1. Providing a forum for developing coordinated marine research enterprises in the National Research Priority areas of biodiversity, exploitation of resources, seaway security and climate.
2. Developing innovative international research and providing a mechanism for involvement in international science programs
3. Advancing research capabilities between national and international ocean scientist ....Ocean Discovery Network. The ODN will focus research on Australia's vast marine jurisdiction by:
1. Providing a forum for developing coordinated marine research enterprises in the National Research Priority areas of biodiversity, exploitation of resources, seaway security and climate.
2. Developing innovative international research and providing a mechanism for involvement in international science programs
3. Advancing research capabilities between national and international ocean scientists with web-based data-exchange services and links to global databases
4. Facilitating the transfer of research skills to young investigators
5. Maximising multidisciplinary use of Australian ocean science capacity, particularly the National Facility Research Vessel and the RSV Aurora Australis
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Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0882682
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$100,000.00
Summary
The Australasian Pollen and Spore Atlas. The results generated in this project will enhance Australian research capabilities across multiple disciplines by providing access to key knowledge of pollen and spores in our region. A unified approach to the archiving, presentation and accessibility to existing and evolving databases will provide a considerably improved context for identification and knowledge pooling of any given pollen or spore type. This will create a nexus for novel interactions be ....The Australasian Pollen and Spore Atlas. The results generated in this project will enhance Australian research capabilities across multiple disciplines by providing access to key knowledge of pollen and spores in our region. A unified approach to the archiving, presentation and accessibility to existing and evolving databases will provide a considerably improved context for identification and knowledge pooling of any given pollen or spore type. This will create a nexus for novel interactions between researchers and end users of these data from within and beyond Australia's borders.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0236393
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$175,000.00
Summary
A Gigabit per second Data Recording System for Geodesy and Astronomy. We plan to acquire a gigabit per second digital data recorder for geodesy and astronomy. We will develop a geodetic VLBI capability to provide independent confirmation of results from alternative techniques such as GPS and SLR and allow us to characterise and remove the systematic errors inherent in these systems. We will estimate motion at sites from the combination of VLBI, GPS, gravity and tide gauge data for geodynamic ef ....A Gigabit per second Data Recording System for Geodesy and Astronomy. We plan to acquire a gigabit per second digital data recorder for geodesy and astronomy. We will develop a geodetic VLBI capability to provide independent confirmation of results from alternative techniques such as GPS and SLR and allow us to characterise and remove the systematic errors inherent in these systems. We will estimate motion at sites from the combination of VLBI, GPS, gravity and tide gauge data for geodynamic effects, such as post-glacial rebound and tectonic motion and global mean sea level change.
We will increase the density of southern radio sources used to define the International Celestial Reference Frame and investigate their structure and evolution. We will make high time resolution observations of young pulsars to study the phenomena of pulsar glitches and aid in the understanding of neutron star interiors.Read moreRead less
Active Ice-Shelf Rift Systems on the Amery Ice Shelf, East Antarctica. Our work will inform the public on how the Antarctic might contribute to global sea level rise, e.g., are current iceberg production rates accelerating and causing inland ice to flow into the sea more rapidly? Furthermore, a greater understanding of the important Earth systems, including the ocean-ice-atmosphere system, is important to a society contemplating the responsibilities of stewardship of the planet as we move into t ....Active Ice-Shelf Rift Systems on the Amery Ice Shelf, East Antarctica. Our work will inform the public on how the Antarctic might contribute to global sea level rise, e.g., are current iceberg production rates accelerating and causing inland ice to flow into the sea more rapidly? Furthermore, a greater understanding of the important Earth systems, including the ocean-ice-atmosphere system, is important to a society contemplating the responsibilities of stewardship of the planet as we move into the era of potentially profound effects from global climate change.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0232306
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$190,000.00
Summary
GPS receivers and support equipment for geophysical observatories in Antarctica. Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment and supporting electronics systems are required for monitoring of the uplift of the Earth's crust near the Lambert Glacier. This will lead to fundamental insights into the past and present-day mass-balance changes of the Antarctic
ice sheet. This research will provide critical data on the changes in the Antarctic ice sheet, a region where scientific information is currently ....GPS receivers and support equipment for geophysical observatories in Antarctica. Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment and supporting electronics systems are required for monitoring of the uplift of the Earth's crust near the Lambert Glacier. This will lead to fundamental insights into the past and present-day mass-balance changes of the Antarctic
ice sheet. This research will provide critical data on the changes in the Antarctic ice sheet, a region where scientific information is currently poorly defined or lacking altogther. Combined with other geophysical data, the results of this project will produce, for the first time, constraints on the contribution of Antarctica to global ice and sea-level models.
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