Rapid Determination of Earthquake Sources in Australia. The Australasian region is at risk from both large earthquakes and tsunamis. Rapid and reliable determination of parameters such as depth and orientation of earthquake fault planes in real time is vital for an effective response. This project will greatly improve the quality of information inferred from seismic waveform data by using three-dimensional structural models of Earth and also provide valuable insight into the earthquake generatio ....Rapid Determination of Earthquake Sources in Australia. The Australasian region is at risk from both large earthquakes and tsunamis. Rapid and reliable determination of parameters such as depth and orientation of earthquake fault planes in real time is vital for an effective response. This project will greatly improve the quality of information inferred from seismic waveform data by using three-dimensional structural models of Earth and also provide valuable insight into the earthquake generation process. By comprehensively incorporating three-dimensional structural models in estimating earthquake sources, the project will be at the forefront of research worldwide. The science developed will underpin automated determination of characteristics of earthquakes and play a key part in efforts to mitigate the impact of tsunamis.Read moreRead less
Unveiling the fine structure of the Australian continent using ocean waves. This project aims to develop new methods to better image lithospheric and upper-mantle structures by using noise from ubiquitous ocean waves, and then use these methods to illuminate fine-scale lithospheric-asthenospheric structures in Australia, from the surface to the upper mantle. Imaging the Earth’s structure using seismic tomography is one of the most fundamental tasks of geoscience. Conventional earthquake-based se ....Unveiling the fine structure of the Australian continent using ocean waves. This project aims to develop new methods to better image lithospheric and upper-mantle structures by using noise from ubiquitous ocean waves, and then use these methods to illuminate fine-scale lithospheric-asthenospheric structures in Australia, from the surface to the upper mantle. Imaging the Earth’s structure using seismic tomography is one of the most fundamental tasks of geoscience. Conventional earthquake-based seismic tomography has difficulties in deciphering fine-scale lithospheric structures. The images from this project will provide a better understanding of the nature of intraplate earthquakes and volcanoes, and improve the assessment of intraplate seismic and volcanic hazards in Australia.Read moreRead less
How the Earth moves: Developing a novel seismological approach to map the small-scale dynamics of the upper mantle. The concept of small-scale convection currents from about 100-400 km below the Earth’s surface is a model proposed to explain the origins of intraplate volcanoes and mountains. However, direct evidence for the physical reality of small-scale convection cells is generally weak. This project will develop a novel seismological approach combining both ambient noise and earthquake data ....How the Earth moves: Developing a novel seismological approach to map the small-scale dynamics of the upper mantle. The concept of small-scale convection currents from about 100-400 km below the Earth’s surface is a model proposed to explain the origins of intraplate volcanoes and mountains. However, direct evidence for the physical reality of small-scale convection cells is generally weak. This project will develop a novel seismological approach combining both ambient noise and earthquake data that can image such small-scale upper mantle convection. The outcomes of this project will help to fill the gap left in the Plate Tectonic paradigm by its inability to explain intraplate geological activity (volcanoes, earthquakes, mountains), which would be a significant step towards unifying conceptual models about how the Earth works.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
New observational constraints on 2004-2007 rupture of the Sumatra megathrust. This project will develop innovative methods and generate new data for studying the rupture of giant subduction zone earthquakes and the generation of destructive tsunamis. This will lead to a better understanding of these phenomena that will enhance our ability to forecast, warn and map the hazards associated with them.
Craton modification and growth: the east Albany-Fraser Orogen in three-dimensions. The objective of this work is to achieve new, synergistic techniques for delineating the three-dimensional structure of the east Albany-Fraser Orogen in Western Australia, and the lithospheric structure below it. These methods will guide understanding of the potential for mineral resources in this region with little surface geological exposure.
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.
Down under down under: using multi-scale seismic tomography to image beneath Australia's Great Artesian Basin. Seismic arrays will be deployed in the Great Artesian Basin to image the crust and mantle using distant earthquake and ambient noise sources. This will answer fundamental questions about the tectonic evolution of eastern Australia and elucidate the structure of a region containing significant deep Earth resources.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190100062
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$404,000.00
Summary
What's shaking down under? This project aims to determine the underlying cause of recent earthquake activity in central Australia. Of all the stable continents, Australia is surprisingly seismically active, with intra-plate earthquakes occurring relatively frequently. However, these are unpredictable, placing lives and infrastructure at risk. This project offers the opportunity to use a new seismic experiment to improve detection of small events that may warn of a more dangerous earthquake to co ....What's shaking down under? This project aims to determine the underlying cause of recent earthquake activity in central Australia. Of all the stable continents, Australia is surprisingly seismically active, with intra-plate earthquakes occurring relatively frequently. However, these are unpredictable, placing lives and infrastructure at risk. This project offers the opportunity to use a new seismic experiment to improve detection of small events that may warn of a more dangerous earthquake to come, and provide sub-surface imaging of the hidden crustal boundaries and faults that are ultimately responsible. Benefits will include improved hazard assessment, and a new predictive model for exploration that relates regional seismicity, crustal faults, and mineral systems.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE120100061
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$285,000.00
Summary
A new seismic facility for investigating tectonic collision zones, earthquake hazards and passive imaging techniques. A new seismic facility will enable collaboration with overseas partners to better understand plate margin tectonics and earthquake hazard in our region for mutual benefit. It will also be used in pilot studies of areas endowed with deep earth resources, and in assessing regions of heightened earthquake activity in Australia.