The Great Barrier Reef in 2100. Our research aims to answer fundamental geomorphic questions about the future of coral reefs, focusing on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). We will develop cutting-edge, fully open-source numerical models to quantify the eco-morphodynamic evolution of the GBR under IPCC climate-change scenarios. Our geomorphic numerical models will consider biotic/abiotic feedbacks including synergistic effects of multiple stressors such as waves, temperature, acidification and sedime ....The Great Barrier Reef in 2100. Our research aims to answer fundamental geomorphic questions about the future of coral reefs, focusing on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). We will develop cutting-edge, fully open-source numerical models to quantify the eco-morphodynamic evolution of the GBR under IPCC climate-change scenarios. Our geomorphic numerical models will consider biotic/abiotic feedbacks including synergistic effects of multiple stressors such as waves, temperature, acidification and sediment transport, at individual reef scales. We will model the future of the GBR’s ecosystem-services, allowing for a quantum leap in the geomorphic knowledge and understanding of coral reef ecosystems. Expected outcomes include a gamechanger tool for future management of the GBR.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE210100028
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,000,000.00
Summary
Australian Membership of the International Ocean Discovery Program. This proposal is for an 18-month membership of the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP), the world’s largest collaborative research program in Earth and Ocean sciences. The Program studies the history and current activity of the Earth by conducting seagoing coring expeditions and monitoring of instrumented boreholes, using globally unique infrastructure that Australians would otherwise have no access to. Program outcomes ....Australian Membership of the International Ocean Discovery Program. This proposal is for an 18-month membership of the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP), the world’s largest collaborative research program in Earth and Ocean sciences. The Program studies the history and current activity of the Earth by conducting seagoing coring expeditions and monitoring of instrumented boreholes, using globally unique infrastructure that Australians would otherwise have no access to. Program outcomes include understanding past global environmental change on multiple time scales, the deep biosphere, plate tectonics, formation and distribution of resources, and generation of hazards. These outcomes are paramount to Australia’s national science and research priorities, and societal and economic prosperity.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230100078
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$440,000.00
Summary
Controls on the severity of past environmental crises. This project aims to investigate how the rate of volcanic volatile emissions controlled the severity of past environmental crises. Catastrophic mass extinctions and major oceanic anoxia events are principally caused by the emplacement of gigantic volcanic eruptions but the volume of magma does not correlate with environmental severity. This project couples high-precision age and volatile emission measurements to model distinct climatic pertu ....Controls on the severity of past environmental crises. This project aims to investigate how the rate of volcanic volatile emissions controlled the severity of past environmental crises. Catastrophic mass extinctions and major oceanic anoxia events are principally caused by the emplacement of gigantic volcanic eruptions but the volume of magma does not correlate with environmental severity. This project couples high-precision age and volatile emission measurements to model distinct climatic perturbations over Earth’s last 540 million years. The intended outcome is to find a root cause for severity of past environmental crises, with past emission rates to be used as tools to model possible future climatic crises and provide a new fundamental understanding of Earth’s magmatic engine.Read moreRead less
U/Th dating of coral mortality and recovery rates in the Great Barrier Reef. This project aims to use high-efficiency U-Th geochronology and palaeoecology to identify past coral mortality events and community changes in the inshore Great Barrier Reef (GBR) and quantify subsequent recovery rates across a water quality gradient. These records will then be linked to natural and human impacts, especially since European settlement. The project outcomes will improve understanding of past disturbances ....U/Th dating of coral mortality and recovery rates in the Great Barrier Reef. This project aims to use high-efficiency U-Th geochronology and palaeoecology to identify past coral mortality events and community changes in the inshore Great Barrier Reef (GBR) and quantify subsequent recovery rates across a water quality gradient. These records will then be linked to natural and human impacts, especially since European settlement. The project outcomes will improve understanding of past disturbances and recovery rates in the GBR ecosystem and help focus management in the face of increased human pressure and environmental changes.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210100084
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$451,428.00
Summary
The interplay of tectonics and sea level on carbonate platform evolution. Reefs and carbonate platforms represent the most prolific component of Earth’s carbonate factory on geological timescales. The project will develop a digital community framework for modelling the rise and demise of carbonate platforms on geological timescales. The project will untangle the relative influence of tectonics, dynamic topography from mantle convection, sea level change, climate, and terrestrial sediment runoff ....The interplay of tectonics and sea level on carbonate platform evolution. Reefs and carbonate platforms represent the most prolific component of Earth’s carbonate factory on geological timescales. The project will develop a digital community framework for modelling the rise and demise of carbonate platforms on geological timescales. The project will untangle the relative influence of tectonics, dynamic topography from mantle convection, sea level change, climate, and terrestrial sediment runoff on the growth and drowning of carbonate platforms. The outcomes will identify the environmental conditions that shut down reefs on the scale of the Great Barrier Reef, quantify the carbon storage potential of carbonate platforms, and model the tectonic development of Australia's continental margins in unprecedented detail.Read moreRead less
Human use of early tropical forest ecosystems. This project aims to investigate the earliest records of tropical forests occupied by modern humans. This project expects to reconstruct ancient tropical ecosystems through time and in unprecedented detail by applying interdisciplinary methods including analyses of fossil mammals, carbonates, and pollen records. Expected outcomes of this project include novel ecological techniques of reconstructing the tropical forests that people first inhabited, a ....Human use of early tropical forest ecosystems. This project aims to investigate the earliest records of tropical forests occupied by modern humans. This project expects to reconstruct ancient tropical ecosystems through time and in unprecedented detail by applying interdisciplinary methods including analyses of fossil mammals, carbonates, and pollen records. Expected outcomes of this project include novel ecological techniques of reconstructing the tropical forests that people first inhabited, and advancing our understanding of modern human behaviour, environmental adaptation, and past exploitation of key ecosystems. This should provide significant benefits such as better understanding of the long-term interaction between tropical forests, their faunas, and people.Read moreRead less
Dawn of the age of mammals in Australia: foundations for an island biota. This project aims to fill a profound gap in knowledge about the origins of the modern fauna on the island continent Australia. It will augment Australia’s national natural heritage, enhance international research collaboration, and provide critical baseline data for complementary research in biology, geology, geography and climatology. End users of this project include primary, secondary, tertiary and public education sect ....Dawn of the age of mammals in Australia: foundations for an island biota. This project aims to fill a profound gap in knowledge about the origins of the modern fauna on the island continent Australia. It will augment Australia’s national natural heritage, enhance international research collaboration, and provide critical baseline data for complementary research in biology, geology, geography and climatology. End users of this project include primary, secondary, tertiary and public education sectors and environment and heritage protection agencies.Read moreRead less