A new approach to the U-series dating of fossil molluscs - a major advance for the earth and archaeological sciences. The development of a reliable method for accurately determining the age of fossil shells represents a breakthrough in the ability to date marine shoreline, lake, and other shell-bearing deposits (e.g. middens). This will present new opportunities for research of significant national benefit, particularly into the effects of climate change, including linked sea-level change and me ....A new approach to the U-series dating of fossil molluscs - a major advance for the earth and archaeological sciences. The development of a reliable method for accurately determining the age of fossil shells represents a breakthrough in the ability to date marine shoreline, lake, and other shell-bearing deposits (e.g. middens). This will present new opportunities for research of significant national benefit, particularly into the effects of climate change, including linked sea-level change and melting of ice sheets, the impact of sea-level change on coastal zones, and shifts in the amount and variability of rainfall in different regions. The method may also be used to estimate the frequency and size of large storm and tsunami events, earthquake risk, and the timing of prehistoric human migration and associated environmental impacts. Read moreRead less
Constraining landform response to tectonic and climate changes in an active orogen: a multi-disciplinary approach. The aim of this project is to quantify the efficiency of coupling between tectonics, climate and erosion in an active mountain belt, the Southern Alps of New Zealand, by combining world-class expertise in a range of fields, including the collection and analysis of thermochronological data, the analysis of digital elevation maps, morphometric field measurements, and the development a ....Constraining landform response to tectonic and climate changes in an active orogen: a multi-disciplinary approach. The aim of this project is to quantify the efficiency of coupling between tectonics, climate and erosion in an active mountain belt, the Southern Alps of New Zealand, by combining world-class expertise in a range of fields, including the collection and analysis of thermochronological data, the analysis of digital elevation maps, morphometric field measurements, and the development and use of numerical models, both tectonic and geomorphic. In particular, it is proposed to develop and use unique quantitative methods to interpret thermochronological data. This work will help resolve the current debate concerning the potential feedback between climate and tectonics.Read moreRead less
A new rheological model for Australia to improve seismic hazard estimates and study the region's recent tectonic history and landform evolution. Australia is currently being squeezed between three active mountain belts, the Himalayas, the Papua New Guinea Highlands and the Southern Alps in New Zealand. We propose to integrate a large number of geological and geophysical databases that have been collected over the past few decades to develop a three-dimensional rheological model of the Australian ....A new rheological model for Australia to improve seismic hazard estimates and study the region's recent tectonic history and landform evolution. Australia is currently being squeezed between three active mountain belts, the Himalayas, the Papua New Guinea Highlands and the Southern Alps in New Zealand. We propose to integrate a large number of geological and geophysical databases that have been collected over the past few decades to develop a three-dimensional rheological model of the Australian continent, that is a model that predicts where and how Australia is deforming today. Combined with new, targeted field work, this model will be used to predict where earthquakes are likely to take place but also to study how our old continent is affected by these active mountain belts to create the present-day landscapes in which we live.Read moreRead less