Efficient and Robust Prediction at Ungauged Catchments. Hydrological models are an integral part of virtually all environmental models formulated at the catchment scale. They are used in the planning, design and operation of water infrastructure. Despite the importance of these models limited rainfall and streamflow gauging forces these models to be routinely applied at ungauged locations where predictive power is poorly understood and almost always unsatisfactory. This project will directly ben ....Efficient and Robust Prediction at Ungauged Catchments. Hydrological models are an integral part of virtually all environmental models formulated at the catchment scale. They are used in the planning, design and operation of water infrastructure. Despite the importance of these models limited rainfall and streamflow gauging forces these models to be routinely applied at ungauged locations where predictive power is poorly understood and almost always unsatisfactory. This project will directly benefit model users by providing (a) robust framework for quantifying uncertainty and (b) improved predictions at ungauged basins. This will provide more realistic guidance for design engineers and policy makers and be of significant benefit to a large range of Australian water users.Read moreRead less
Ecohydrological forecasting: the pivotal role of root-zone soil moisture. This project aims to overcome the scientific and technological challenges preventing soil water and vegetation forecasting at useful land management scales (eg. 25 m). The significance is in enabling an unprecedented hyperresolution modelling capability for Australia through the integration of new ecohydrological theory with a range of satellite observations. Outcomes include more accurate, spatially-detailed information o ....Ecohydrological forecasting: the pivotal role of root-zone soil moisture. This project aims to overcome the scientific and technological challenges preventing soil water and vegetation forecasting at useful land management scales (eg. 25 m). The significance is in enabling an unprecedented hyperresolution modelling capability for Australia through the integration of new ecohydrological theory with a range of satellite observations. Outcomes include more accurate, spatially-detailed information of current soil water amounts, and reliable forecasts of vegetation condition several months into the future. This will greatly enhance timely decision making and forward planning by farmers, fire agencies, and other land and water managers, with corresponding increases in productivity, sustainability and community safety.Read moreRead less
Water, carbon, and economics: resolving complex linkages for river health. By linking landscapes into our emerging low-carbon economy, this project will investigate how land management practices can be improved through payments for ecosystem services. With a focus on water and carbon, the main goal is to develop mechanisms to support integrated land and water management at the catchment scale.
An innovative strategy for stormwater remediation and reduction of contaminant supply from catchments. Many urbanised harbours world-wide are polluted and the main source is stormwater. Currently, emphasis is to remove gross pollutants from stormwater using numerous devices scattered through the catchment. In a radical shift from traditional approaches, we will identify primary contaminant sources in the catchment for later targeted education and regulation and a single remediation device will r ....An innovative strategy for stormwater remediation and reduction of contaminant supply from catchments. Many urbanised harbours world-wide are polluted and the main source is stormwater. Currently, emphasis is to remove gross pollutants from stormwater using numerous devices scattered through the catchment. In a radical shift from traditional approaches, we will identify primary contaminant sources in the catchment for later targeted education and regulation and a single remediation device will remove most toxic substances in stormwater currently discharged to estuaries. Stormwater reuse will provide a new valuable urban resource. This paradigm shift in traditional stormwater strategy will ensure biodiversity and ecologically sustainable development of urbanised ports. Port Jackson is used as a test case.Read moreRead less
Gravity Changes, Soil Moisture and Data Assimilation. This project will assess the utility of space and ground based gravity measurements for monitoring changes in the hydrological cycle at regional scales. At present there are no methods available for monitoring changes in terrestrial water storage over the globe, despite their importance for assessing the effects of large-scale changes in land use and climate change. The launch of NASA's Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment satellites later ....Gravity Changes, Soil Moisture and Data Assimilation. This project will assess the utility of space and ground based gravity measurements for monitoring changes in the hydrological cycle at regional scales. At present there are no methods available for monitoring changes in terrestrial water storage over the globe, despite their importance for assessing the effects of large-scale changes in land use and climate change. The launch of NASA's Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment satellites later this year provides a 5-year window of opportunity to undertake ground-based research to test this innovative technique for monitoring terrestrial water storage from gravity measurements - something that has been shown to be possible theoretically, but has not been testable until now.Read moreRead less
A new-generation flood forecasting system using observations from space. Floods are dangerous and expensive, costing Australia more than any other cause of natural disaster. This project will use satellite measurements of soil moisture and rainfall along with computer models to improve the Bureau of Meteorology’s predictions of floods in rivers. Better flood forecasts will reduce costs and save lives.
Identifying critical thresholds to prioritise lake restoration. This project aims to conduct a global assessment of lake water quality and prioritise lakes for restoration. This project expects to generate new understanding of trends in lake condition based on application of geospatial frameworks and models for nutrient loads and in-lake trophic state. This information will help to quantify the magnitude of actions required to restore lakes at landscape scale. The intended outcome is a global at ....Identifying critical thresholds to prioritise lake restoration. This project aims to conduct a global assessment of lake water quality and prioritise lakes for restoration. This project expects to generate new understanding of trends in lake condition based on application of geospatial frameworks and models for nutrient loads and in-lake trophic state. This information will help to quantify the magnitude of actions required to restore lakes at landscape scale. The intended outcome is a global atlas linking catchment hydrology, nutrient loads and lake attributes. Expected outcomes of this project include improved methods to predict effects of land use and climate change on lakes across the globe, and recommendations to water resource managers on investing in the restoration of lakes across the landscape.Read moreRead less
Scaling and assimilation of soil moisture and streamflow. Information on how soil moisture varies in space and time has been largely restricted to point-scale groundbased measurements. We will develop methods for predicting how soil moisture status evolves in time over a range of spatial scales, by assimilating groundbased measurements and satellite observations of soil moisture with streamflow observations into simple rainfall-runoff models. Extensive soil moisture monitoring will allow develop ....Scaling and assimilation of soil moisture and streamflow. Information on how soil moisture varies in space and time has been largely restricted to point-scale groundbased measurements. We will develop methods for predicting how soil moisture status evolves in time over a range of spatial scales, by assimilating groundbased measurements and satellite observations of soil moisture with streamflow observations into simple rainfall-runoff models. Extensive soil moisture monitoring will allow development of scaling relationships and validation for new satellite-based microwave radiometers. The project's outcomes will have significant benefits in relation to flood mitigation, salinity control and irrigation management.Read moreRead less
Carbon, nutrient and sediment dynamics in a semi-arid catchment. Carbon, nutrient and sediment dynamics has a large impact on stream ecology so our ability to better understand and manage disturbance in a catchment is essential if we are to better manage our resources and natural systems. The project will provide fundamental data and insight into carbon, nutrient and sediment dynamics in a semi-arid region.
Salinity processes in Lake Eyre Basin rivers. The unregulated rivers of the Lake Eyre Basin (LEB) provide a unique opportunity to study natural salinisation processes at multiple scales, in systems that have hydrological and biological similarities with dryland rivers in the Murray Darling Basin (MDB) and elsewhere. The rivers of the LEB maintain a high quality of ecological health despite salinity levels that can vary over two orders of magnitude with changing flow conditions. This project wil ....Salinity processes in Lake Eyre Basin rivers. The unregulated rivers of the Lake Eyre Basin (LEB) provide a unique opportunity to study natural salinisation processes at multiple scales, in systems that have hydrological and biological similarities with dryland rivers in the Murray Darling Basin (MDB) and elsewhere. The rivers of the LEB maintain a high quality of ecological health despite salinity levels that can vary over two orders of magnitude with changing flow conditions. This project will study salinity processes in the unregulated rivers of LEB and identify the dynamics of stream salinity using a combination of novel tracer and hydrological measurements and modelling.Read moreRead less