Numerical Modelling of Extreme Waves Generated by Tropical Cyclones. Waves generated by tropical cyclones are a key design parameter for shipping, coastal and offshore structures and coastal erosion. The accurate prediction of tropical cyclone generated extreme waves is consequently of critical importance. Outcomes of the project will lead to more accurate wave forecasts, both for tropical cyclones and other extreme events. The main result will be a new non-linear approach to be used in predicti ....Numerical Modelling of Extreme Waves Generated by Tropical Cyclones. Waves generated by tropical cyclones are a key design parameter for shipping, coastal and offshore structures and coastal erosion. The accurate prediction of tropical cyclone generated extreme waves is consequently of critical importance. Outcomes of the project will lead to more accurate wave forecasts, both for tropical cyclones and other extreme events. The main result will be a new non-linear approach to be used in prediction models. This approach is expected to be broadly implemented by the meteorological, oceanographic and scientific communities around the world and potentially replace existing algorithms in spectral wave models. The economic and social implications of an enhanced ability to predict such extremes are significant.Read moreRead less
Numerical simulation of the fish-like swimming of linked bodies. Although Zoologists have made detailed observations of swimming fish there are still many unanswered questions about how they swim. We do not know how the fins and undulating body work together to produce the high speed of the tuna, or the fast turns of a fish escaping danger. We see dolphins swim through the sea's surface but we don't know if they do that because it is much more efficient. This project is designed to simulate arb ....Numerical simulation of the fish-like swimming of linked bodies. Although Zoologists have made detailed observations of swimming fish there are still many unanswered questions about how they swim. We do not know how the fins and undulating body work together to produce the high speed of the tuna, or the fast turns of a fish escaping danger. We see dolphins swim through the sea's surface but we don't know if they do that because it is much more efficient. This project is designed to simulate arbitrary fish motion and give answers to these and other questions concerning swimming. It may also help humans to swim more efficiently and provide simulation tools for the design of robotic undersea vehicles.Read moreRead less
Wave-Induced Upper-Ocean Mixing. The wave-induced mixing is of principal importance for air-sea interaction models since heat capacity of 2-3m of the ocean water is equal to the capacity of the entire atmosphere. This project will study and implement such mixing, including the newly described physical phenomenon of wave-induced turbulence, into a variety of models. As a result, wave models and global climate models will be coupled. It is believed that such coupling will enhance our ability to pr ....Wave-Induced Upper-Ocean Mixing. The wave-induced mixing is of principal importance for air-sea interaction models since heat capacity of 2-3m of the ocean water is equal to the capacity of the entire atmosphere. This project will study and implement such mixing, including the newly described physical phenomenon of wave-induced turbulence, into a variety of models. As a result, wave models and global climate models will be coupled. It is believed that such coupling will enhance our ability to predict the impact of global climate change. As part of the project, predictions of changes to the global wave climate will be developed. Such predictions are important to a nation such as Australia where significant population and economic assets are located close to the coast.Read moreRead less
Global trends in oceanic wind speed and wave height. This project will determine whether winds and waves over the world's oceans have changed over the past 30 years. Such information is critically important in understanding global climate change, evaporation, air-sea interaction and to safely design and operate coastal and offshore facilities.
Satellite measurements of ocean wave breaking. This project aims to develop a methodology for global satellite measurements of ocean wave breaking and determine global trends. Measurements of ocean wave breaking are elusive and not available at global scale, but are important for understanding ocean wave dynamics, air-sea interaction, aerosol production, gas transfer, ocean mixing, climate, and other coupled dynamics in the air-sea system, and designing and operating coastal and offshore facilit ....Satellite measurements of ocean wave breaking. This project aims to develop a methodology for global satellite measurements of ocean wave breaking and determine global trends. Measurements of ocean wave breaking are elusive and not available at global scale, but are important for understanding ocean wave dynamics, air-sea interaction, aerosol production, gas transfer, ocean mixing, climate, and other coupled dynamics in the air-sea system, and designing and operating coastal and offshore facilities. This project will produce major updates of wave and General Circulation Models which will be important for our understanding of wave, ocean and climate dynamics, the design and operation of coastal and offshore facilities and the determination of global trends. The new satellite sensing is expected to be used extensively in metocean and engineering applications, and for major updates of wave and general circulation models.Read moreRead less
Predicting environmental extremes in a period of climate change. This project has the potential to reduce the uncertainty in the predictions of extreme winds and waves used to design and operate coastal and offshore facilities. Predictions are typically achieved by extrapolating recorded data to predict probable extremes. The uncertainties associated with this approach are very large. This project aims to develop a new approach called ‘large ensemble aggregate’ analysis, which brings together da ....Predicting environmental extremes in a period of climate change. This project has the potential to reduce the uncertainty in the predictions of extreme winds and waves used to design and operate coastal and offshore facilities. Predictions are typically achieved by extrapolating recorded data to predict probable extremes. The uncertainties associated with this approach are very large. This project aims to develop a new approach called ‘large ensemble aggregate’ analysis, which brings together data from alternative model predictions or alternative measurement locations to expand the effective data and avoid the necessity for statistical extrapolation. This approach may significantly reduce the uncertainty in estimating extreme values. This would reduce the cost of constructing coastal and offshore facilities and decrease the risk of catastrophic failure.Read moreRead less
The Spectral Evolution of Ocean Swell. This project aims to develop a comprehensive understanding of the processes responsible for the evolution of ocean swell. It will generate new knowledge in the field by using a combination of newly available satellite data and buoys strategically located along two propagation paths across the Pacific. The expected outcomes will be a unique data set and significant advances in our ability to accurately predict ocean swell. Swell prediction remains one of the ....The Spectral Evolution of Ocean Swell. This project aims to develop a comprehensive understanding of the processes responsible for the evolution of ocean swell. It will generate new knowledge in the field by using a combination of newly available satellite data and buoys strategically located along two propagation paths across the Pacific. The expected outcomes will be a unique data set and significant advances in our ability to accurately predict ocean swell. Swell prediction remains one of the major short-comings of ocean wave prediction models. As swell conditions dominate ocean wave climate for 75% of the time, accurate prediction is critical for coastal protection, understanding air-sea interaction and maintaining ship and port operations.Read moreRead less
Bubble clouds in ocean waves. This project aims to predict the behaviour of bubble clouds in ocean waves. Bubble clouds are used in Europe to shield marine mammals from the dangerous noise of offshore wind-turbine construction, but would be dispersed by Australia's ocean swell and turbulence; and unlike in Europe, Australia's offshore-wind sites are frequented by endangered whales. Bubble clouds from breaking waves may also dissolve up to third of humanity's carbon in the ocean. Experiments and ....Bubble clouds in ocean waves. This project aims to predict the behaviour of bubble clouds in ocean waves. Bubble clouds are used in Europe to shield marine mammals from the dangerous noise of offshore wind-turbine construction, but would be dispersed by Australia's ocean swell and turbulence; and unlike in Europe, Australia's offshore-wind sites are frequented by endangered whales. Bubble clouds from breaking waves may also dissolve up to third of humanity's carbon in the ocean. Experiments and coordinated numerical simulations would predict the displacement and dispersion of bubbles in oceanic conditions. Experiments and simulations would then predict the acoustic behaviour of bubble clouds. This outcome would benefit new offshore-wind industries and climate science.Read moreRead less
The Origin and Development of the Tongan Maritime Empire. This project aims to understand the nature and development of the Tongan maritime empire, the most complex socio-political entity to exist in prehistoric Oceania. Extensive excavations of monumental structures and other sites throughout the central Pacific will create the first cultural sequence of the empire and a comprehensive radiocarbon chronology. The excavations will concentrate on sites of cross-cultural contact between indigeno ....The Origin and Development of the Tongan Maritime Empire. This project aims to understand the nature and development of the Tongan maritime empire, the most complex socio-political entity to exist in prehistoric Oceania. Extensive excavations of monumental structures and other sites throughout the central Pacific will create the first cultural sequence of the empire and a comprehensive radiocarbon chronology. The excavations will concentrate on sites of cross-cultural contact between indigenous peoples of the region. In addition traditional and documentary historical records will be reanalysed. A substantial monograph will assess the significance of these new Pacific data in relation to our understanding of maritime empires around the world.Read moreRead less
Final frontier in computational modelling of movement. This project aims to create the computational models and methods needed to advance current understanding of musculoskeletal function during movement. Humans must maintain their capacity to move in order to maintain quality-of-life. Predictive modelling is potentially the most powerful approach for understanding musculoskeletal function during movement. Current computational methods are too slow and unreliable to deliver predictive simulation ....Final frontier in computational modelling of movement. This project aims to create the computational models and methods needed to advance current understanding of musculoskeletal function during movement. Humans must maintain their capacity to move in order to maintain quality-of-life. Predictive modelling is potentially the most powerful approach for understanding musculoskeletal function during movement. Current computational methods are too slow and unreliable to deliver predictive simulations of movement using realistic models of muscle and joint anatomy. This project expects to create the next generation of methods and algorithms needed to enable predictive modelling of movement. Predictive simulations will provide new insights into how muscles stabilise and control movements of the spine, pelvis and lower limbs during daily activities such as walking.Read moreRead less