Dynamic soil landscape carbon modelling. Soil is the largest terrestrial store of carbon. This project will enhance our understanding of the causes and controls of spatial and temporal variations of soil carbon which is crucial for managing climate change, food water and energy security and for maintenance of biodiversity.
Global space-time soil carbon assessment. Soil carbon is a key component of functional ecosystems and is crucial for food, water and energy security, and for climate change mitigation. The project will contribute to global understanding of soil carbon and its management for sustainable wellbeing.
Up in smoke and out to sea? Carbon, water and land use change in savanna. This project aims to improve our understanding of carbon cycling in natural and transformed savannas. It seeks to resolve a large discrepancy in savanna carbon sink size as measured by flux towers compared to long-term direct measures of carbon stock change. This would improve our fundamental understanding of carbon balances (gains/losses) and residence times in these dynamic ecosystems. The long-term impacts of these land ....Up in smoke and out to sea? Carbon, water and land use change in savanna. This project aims to improve our understanding of carbon cycling in natural and transformed savannas. It seeks to resolve a large discrepancy in savanna carbon sink size as measured by flux towers compared to long-term direct measures of carbon stock change. This would improve our fundamental understanding of carbon balances (gains/losses) and residence times in these dynamic ecosystems. The long-term impacts of these land use changes on carbon storage are poorly understood, therefore this new knowledge is vital in determining the viability of 'carbon farming' in these landscapes. More accurate information would guide improved land management given the intensification of land use, weed invasion and fire regime change in northern Australia.Read moreRead less
Anticipating closure of bauxite refineries in Western Australia: the water quality implications of a proposed new design in residue storage areas. Refining bauxite is a major industrial activity in Australia, with economic benefits and a high potential for environmental impact. Many bauxite refineries are sited in rural areas. Community interests are given high priority in developing strategies for long-term storage of residue. These community interests include minimal impact on farmland, water, ....Anticipating closure of bauxite refineries in Western Australia: the water quality implications of a proposed new design in residue storage areas. Refining bauxite is a major industrial activity in Australia, with economic benefits and a high potential for environmental impact. Many bauxite refineries are sited in rural areas. Community interests are given high priority in developing strategies for long-term storage of residue. These community interests include minimal impact on farmland, water, health and natural ecosystems. Some of the refinery residue can be re-used in applications such as road construction, thus reducing the need to find other materials for this purpose. This project will investigate new residue management practices which could lead to better ways of establishing a sustainable vegetation cover and avoiding the impact of drainage water on the environment.Read moreRead less
Carbon conundrum: Functional characterisation of organic matter-clay mineral interactions in relation to carbon sequestration. Carbon sequestration in soil has been recognised as one of the possible measures through which greenhouse gas emissions can be mitigated. The major processes involved in carbon sequestration in soil include chemical immobilisation of carbon with soil particles and physical protection in the pores of soil microaggregates. These two processes are mediated through the funct ....Carbon conundrum: Functional characterisation of organic matter-clay mineral interactions in relation to carbon sequestration. Carbon sequestration in soil has been recognised as one of the possible measures through which greenhouse gas emissions can be mitigated. The major processes involved in carbon sequestration in soil include chemical immobilisation of carbon with soil particles and physical protection in the pores of soil microaggregates. These two processes are mediated through the functional relationships of soil organic matter and clay mineral interactions in soils. This project investigates nanoscale organomineral association underlying microaggregate formation and stability, as well as the distribution and microbial decomposition of carbon within microaggregates using a suite of advanced spectroscopic, molecular and isotopic techniques.Read moreRead less
Fires, black carbon, greenhouse gas emissions and the carbon balance of southern sclerophyll forests. Ecologically sustainable forest management requires an understanding of the role of fire in the carbon balance of native forests, and in Australia's overall carbon balance. Fires are crucial to both this carbon balance and to the ecology of the forests. This project will help forest managers make decisions about using prescribed fire to manage fuels while at the same time managing carbon. An ....Fires, black carbon, greenhouse gas emissions and the carbon balance of southern sclerophyll forests. Ecologically sustainable forest management requires an understanding of the role of fire in the carbon balance of native forests, and in Australia's overall carbon balance. Fires are crucial to both this carbon balance and to the ecology of the forests. This project will help forest managers make decisions about using prescribed fire to manage fuels while at the same time managing carbon. An aim of management is to identify fire regimes that will optimise the carbon outcome as well as provide protection to life and property. This project will help managers meet that aim by developing a quantitative understanding of how much stable, black carbon (charcoal) is produced and how it affects other soil processes.Read moreRead less
Linking soil acidification with carbon dynamics in Australian agroecosystems. The ability to mitigate climate change by sequestering soil carbon may be limited in acidic soils, which are prevalent in Australia. The project will investigate the link between carbon cycling, soil acidification and liming, and provide important knowledge to identify agricultural practices which have the capacity to build soil carbon.
Soil ecology in the 21st century - a crucial role in land management. Recent technological advances have helped us discover the role of soil ecology in achieving sustainability in Australia. This project will develop ways to take this complex knowledge and translate it into forms that can be used by land managers. This work will focus on soil carbon sequestration, but is relevant to many other environmental issues.
Will soil carbon burial Increase in mangrove wetlands? The aim of this project is to investigate carbon burial in mangroves during current and historical climatic conditions through in depth dating methods and paleoclimate reconstructions. The project intends to use state-of-the-art radionuclide tracer technologies to determine system scale aspects of the mangrove carbon budget, i.e. burial, tidal export and respiration. This project is significant because it aims to delineate how climatic condi ....Will soil carbon burial Increase in mangrove wetlands? The aim of this project is to investigate carbon burial in mangroves during current and historical climatic conditions through in depth dating methods and paleoclimate reconstructions. The project intends to use state-of-the-art radionuclide tracer technologies to determine system scale aspects of the mangrove carbon budget, i.e. burial, tidal export and respiration. This project is significant because it aims to delineate how climatic conditions are directly related to the mangrove carbon budget. Further, the site specific data on historical mangrove carbon burial could allow adaptation strategies for use of coastal wetland habitats that sequester CO2, a natural means to help ameliorate greenhouse gas, as support for mangrove forest protection and restoration.Read moreRead less
Urban biochar: towards prescriptive biochar use for maximum economic productivity and sustainability benefits in urban environments. This project will develop a life cycle assessment of waste management options for green waste and biosolids based on a clear understanding of productivity benefits of urban biochar application to high value production systems.