Large-scale three dimensional deformation of the lithosphere by subduction and mantle flow. We will be modelling of the dynamics of the Earth's crust and shallow lithosphere in response to the huge stresses created by plate motions. For Australia these stresses are transmitted from the distant plate boundaries, but they have a direct controlling influence on the evolution of the petroleum rich basins of Australia. These basins have reached maturity; further exploration will be in deep water wher ....Large-scale three dimensional deformation of the lithosphere by subduction and mantle flow. We will be modelling of the dynamics of the Earth's crust and shallow lithosphere in response to the huge stresses created by plate motions. For Australia these stresses are transmitted from the distant plate boundaries, but they have a direct controlling influence on the evolution of the petroleum rich basins of Australia. These basins have reached maturity; further exploration will be in deep water where geophysical prospecting methods are unreliable. Model-driven "exploration geodynamics" methods such as those we are developing will be needed to support traditional exploration techniques in these areas.Read moreRead less
Three dimensional computational models of geological basin and hinterland evolution incorporating lithospheric mantle and surface processes. Petroleum exploration in deepwater areas offshore Australia is becoming increasingly important as more accessible, shallow water oil reserves near exhaustion. Geological simulation is an important tool for understanding deep water basins where geophysical imaging techniques are less effective. This project will develop 3D computational models relevant to un ....Three dimensional computational models of geological basin and hinterland evolution incorporating lithospheric mantle and surface processes. Petroleum exploration in deepwater areas offshore Australia is becoming increasingly important as more accessible, shallow water oil reserves near exhaustion. Geological simulation is an important tool for understanding deep water basins where geophysical imaging techniques are less effective. This project will develop 3D computational models relevant to understanding the development and evolution of geological basins and the sediments that fill them. The models will be integrated with available offshore data for potentially prospective Australian basins in the Northwest Shelf and the Southern Australian margin.Read moreRead less
The propagation of gravity currents over complex terrain. Dust storms, volcanic eruptions, rivers rushing sediment into lakes and seas, and spillages of toxic liquids and gases, are all examples of environmental problems that can occur, and when they do, they threaten both wild life and human communities. This project involves research that will provide quantitative understanding of key processes in these problems from which reliable software will be built to predict their consequences. The soft ....The propagation of gravity currents over complex terrain. Dust storms, volcanic eruptions, rivers rushing sediment into lakes and seas, and spillages of toxic liquids and gases, are all examples of environmental problems that can occur, and when they do, they threaten both wild life and human communities. This project involves research that will provide quantitative understanding of key processes in these problems from which reliable software will be built to predict their consequences. The software will produce an animation of dust containing fluids moving over a landscape of arbitrary complexity.Read moreRead less
The Initiation and 3D Evolution of Instabilities in the Deep Continental Lithosphere. This project is part of a new international initiative in the Geodynamics of the Australian Plate bringing together studies of the active tectonics of the boundary regions of our plate and the ancient analogues of these processes which are locked into the stable interior of the Australian continent. The proposed research is a good fit to the Identification and Extraction of Deep Earth Resources priority goal. D ....The Initiation and 3D Evolution of Instabilities in the Deep Continental Lithosphere. This project is part of a new international initiative in the Geodynamics of the Australian Plate bringing together studies of the active tectonics of the boundary regions of our plate and the ancient analogues of these processes which are locked into the stable interior of the Australian continent. The proposed research is a good fit to the Identification and Extraction of Deep Earth Resources priority goal. Detachment of the lithosphere is associated with fertile mantle being emplaced at shallow depth below the crust; an important precursory event for mineralization. The project builds upon AuScope (NCRIS 5.13) to create infrastructure for a new, smart resource exploration and extraction industry based on modelling and simulation.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
Computer simulation to study emergence of material texture in the Earth and Plate Tectonics. Plate tectonics has played a crucial role in the evolution and dynamics of the earth impacting on the diversity of life, mineralisation, and crustal dynamics. Despite its significance, how and under what conditions material texture and plate tectonics emerge from a proto-planet is not well understood. New computational methodologies to simulate the evolution of the plate-mantle system will be used to stu ....Computer simulation to study emergence of material texture in the Earth and Plate Tectonics. Plate tectonics has played a crucial role in the evolution and dynamics of the earth impacting on the diversity of life, mineralisation, and crustal dynamics. Despite its significance, how and under what conditions material texture and plate tectonics emerge from a proto-planet is not well understood. New computational methodologies to simulate the evolution of the plate-mantle system will be used to study how the upper mantle emerges as a thermo-mechanically distinct boundary layer, how this emergent structure relates to anisotropy in the upper mantle, and how it is affected by cross-scale effects controlling fault zone behaviour and crustal dynamics.Read moreRead less