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
Southern Ocean storms and noise sources from Australian seismic array recordings. Storm severity in the Southern Ocean - is it increasing? This project will investigate storminess using decades of seismic records from Australian stations, adding unique data for remote ocean areas with no direct weather observations, with profound implications for the global climate system.
Are ocean storms impacting Australia becoming more severe? This project aims to improve our understanding of the severe ocean storms that impact Australia. The novel approach will make use of multiple decades of the background 'noise', recorded continuously by earthquake seismic observatories, to locate and analyse ocean storms through time and identify changes in storm tracks. An interdisciplinary interpretation will follow which combines the large body of new results from seismology with data ....Are ocean storms impacting Australia becoming more severe? This project aims to improve our understanding of the severe ocean storms that impact Australia. The novel approach will make use of multiple decades of the background 'noise', recorded continuously by earthquake seismic observatories, to locate and analyse ocean storms through time and identify changes in storm tracks. An interdisciplinary interpretation will follow which combines the large body of new results from seismology with data from oceanography and meteorology. Significant advancement in our knowledge of severe storms will benefit Australia by indicating whether such storms are becoming more severe or, alternatively, if storm patterns are shifting.Read moreRead less
Application of the multichannel self-potential method to detection of seepage from mine tailings impoundments. This project will use a modern multichannel geophysical data acquisition system to study short and long-term variations in self-potential measurements at a tailings dam. The project will use the self-potential method to detect fluid seepage paths through the dam wall, and will use numerical models to make quantitative estimates of seepage rates. The major outcomes of the project will ....Application of the multichannel self-potential method to detection of seepage from mine tailings impoundments. This project will use a modern multichannel geophysical data acquisition system to study short and long-term variations in self-potential measurements at a tailings dam. The project will use the self-potential method to detect fluid seepage paths through the dam wall, and will use numerical models to make quantitative estimates of seepage rates. The major outcomes of the project will be a rigorous appraisal of the utility of the self-potential method for mapping seepage in an operating mine environment, and construction of fluid flow paths through the dam which can be used to guide future remediation work.Read moreRead less
Archaeological Geophysics at Port Arthur. This project will apply geophysical technology for rapid non-invasive archaeological investigations at Port Arthur, Australia's premier convict era historical site.
It will be the first comprehensive integrated geophysical study of a major European archaeological site in Australia and will provide a framework for future geophysical archaeological investigations at other Australian historic sites.
The main direct outcomes from this project will be ....Archaeological Geophysics at Port Arthur. This project will apply geophysical technology for rapid non-invasive archaeological investigations at Port Arthur, Australia's premier convict era historical site.
It will be the first comprehensive integrated geophysical study of a major European archaeological site in Australia and will provide a framework for future geophysical archaeological investigations at other Australian historic sites.
The main direct outcomes from this project will be an improved understanding of the location and nature of obscured cultural features at Port Arthur and a significant improvement in the efficiency of archaeological investigations.
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Time-lapse geophysical monitoring of acid mine drainage at Savage River Mine, North-western Tasmania. This project will apply geophysical methods to image and monitor the subsurface distribution, and short and long-term temporal variations in ground conductivity associated with Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) at the Savage River Mine, Tasmania. AMD is a major environmental problem affecting mining operations across Australia. Geophysical techniques are inexpensive means of mapping variations in subsu ....Time-lapse geophysical monitoring of acid mine drainage at Savage River Mine, North-western Tasmania. This project will apply geophysical methods to image and monitor the subsurface distribution, and short and long-term temporal variations in ground conductivity associated with Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) at the Savage River Mine, Tasmania. AMD is a major environmental problem affecting mining operations across Australia. Geophysical techniques are inexpensive means of mapping variations in subsurface electrical conductivity related to changes in groundwater levels and contaminant concentration. The major outcomes of this project will be development of appropriate geophysical methods and interpretation techniques for delineation and monitoring of AMD at sites characterised by high seasonal rainfall and significant topography.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140101710
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$381,620.00
Summary
Investigating the formation of the continents: Ontong Java Plateau as a modern day analogue. The formation of the continents has been obscured by billions of years of history. It has been proposed that the Ontong Java Plateau is a modern day analogue for the continents. The Ontong Java Plateau is a huge submerged volcanic edifice, half the size of Australia. This project will seismically image the interior of the Earth beneath the Ontong Java Plateau and use these images as constraints to develo ....Investigating the formation of the continents: Ontong Java Plateau as a modern day analogue. The formation of the continents has been obscured by billions of years of history. It has been proposed that the Ontong Java Plateau is a modern day analogue for the continents. The Ontong Java Plateau is a huge submerged volcanic edifice, half the size of Australia. This project will seismically image the interior of the Earth beneath the Ontong Java Plateau and use these images as constraints to develop a model for its origin and evolution. This work has implications for understanding the formation of the continents and the factors that have enabled their stability for billions of years. A better understanding of continent formation may benefit Australia by yielding insights into economic resources, plate tectonics and geohazards.Read moreRead less
Beneath Bass Strait: linking Tasmania and mainland Australia using a novel seismic experiment. A new low-cost approach based on background seismic energy and earthquake recordings will be used to construct three-dimensional maps of the deep structure beneath Bass Strait. Understanding the broad scale geology of southeast Australia is of national importance because the area is host to an abundance of petroleum, geothermal and mineral resources.
Establishing the reference frame using astronomical and space-geodetic observations. Australia is increasingly dependent on spatial positioning and spatial data, yet mostly relies upon international agencies and research organisations to provide regular updates of coordinates and reference frame definition used on Earth. Improving the accuracy of the reference frame definition and our understanding of errors in the space-based measurements will provide new insights for studies of the Earth. The ....Establishing the reference frame using astronomical and space-geodetic observations. Australia is increasingly dependent on spatial positioning and spatial data, yet mostly relies upon international agencies and research organisations to provide regular updates of coordinates and reference frame definition used on Earth. Improving the accuracy of the reference frame definition and our understanding of errors in the space-based measurements will provide new insights for studies of the Earth. The research will yield results in studies of national significance, such as sea level rise, the effects of melting polar regions, and crustal deformation, as well as developing Australia's expertise in exploiting observations of the Earth from space.Read moreRead less