Better greenhouse gas budgets: new techniques and applications. The most recent (2001) international assessment strongly confirms the link between global climate change and human-induced changes in atmospheric composition. However, improved knowledge of atmospheric trace gas budgets is essential for better modelling of future climate change and formulation of public policy. We have developed novel techniques for atmospheric trace gas and isoptic analysis that provide new tools for resolving trac ....Better greenhouse gas budgets: new techniques and applications. The most recent (2001) international assessment strongly confirms the link between global climate change and human-induced changes in atmospheric composition. However, improved knowledge of atmospheric trace gas budgets is essential for better modelling of future climate change and formulation of public policy. We have developed novel techniques for atmospheric trace gas and isoptic analysis that provide new tools for resolving trace gas budgets in ways not previously possible. We will apply these tools to improve our understanding of the Australian and global budgets of greenhouse gases, especially nitrous oxide and methane, for which sources still have unacceptably large uncertainties.Read moreRead less
Biomass Burning Emissions - An Innovative Technique for Assessing Global Climate Impacts. This proposal will significantly improve our understanding of the impacts of biomass burning on climate and environmental change leading to better predictive powers and more informed political and economic responses to issues such as Australian compliance with international protocols dealing with global climate change (Kyoto). Further, it will help the development of Australian expertise in global chemical ....Biomass Burning Emissions - An Innovative Technique for Assessing Global Climate Impacts. This proposal will significantly improve our understanding of the impacts of biomass burning on climate and environmental change leading to better predictive powers and more informed political and economic responses to issues such as Australian compliance with international protocols dealing with global climate change (Kyoto). Further, it will help the development of Australian expertise in global chemical transport modelling not currently addressed by other Australian research programs.
Read moreRead less
Physical, Chemical and Radiative Characteristics of Australian Continental Aerosols. Australian desert dust, and the biomass burning aerosol particles produced in the top-end burning season, have the potential to impose an environmental burden not only on Australia, but also on the surrounding region. While most of the world's major aerosol types have been well studied in recent years, these two remain largely unknown. There are good reasons to believe that Australian aerosols are different from ....Physical, Chemical and Radiative Characteristics of Australian Continental Aerosols. Australian desert dust, and the biomass burning aerosol particles produced in the top-end burning season, have the potential to impose an environmental burden not only on Australia, but also on the surrounding region. While most of the world's major aerosol types have been well studied in recent years, these two remain largely unknown. There are good reasons to believe that Australian aerosols are different from many others. We therefore intend to fully characterize their relevant properties, so we may monitor them from space, and evaluate their environmental impacts.Read moreRead less
The composition and transport of Australian air-borne dust: critical to continental and marine environments. This project will determine the composition of Australian airborne dust and effects on the environment and in particular soils, rainforests and the marine realm, including reefs. 'Fingerprinting' the chemical and microbiological content of aeolian dust is of particular relevance to determining its impact on the health of the Australian people and environment. Atmospheric conditions propit ....The composition and transport of Australian air-borne dust: critical to continental and marine environments. This project will determine the composition of Australian airborne dust and effects on the environment and in particular soils, rainforests and the marine realm, including reefs. 'Fingerprinting' the chemical and microbiological content of aeolian dust is of particular relevance to determining its impact on the health of the Australian people and environment. Atmospheric conditions propitious for dust entrainment and transport will be determined, and in particular atmospheric exchanges between Indonesia, southern Africa and Australia will be established. The relevance of aeolian dust to climate, ecosystems and biosecurity in our region will be established through the study of marine and lacustrine cores.Read moreRead less
QUANTIFICATION OF INTERACTIONS DURING THE DISPERSION OF CORONA IONS AND AIRBORNE PARTICLES NEAR POWER LINES. Currently there is no method for quantification of concentration and dispersion of charged aerosols near high voltage power lines (HVPLs). However, hypothesis have been presented, but not yet proven scientifically, that residents of houses close to combustion sources such as highways or industrial plants and HVPLs may be subjected to health risk due to inhalation of charged aerosols. The ....QUANTIFICATION OF INTERACTIONS DURING THE DISPERSION OF CORONA IONS AND AIRBORNE PARTICLES NEAR POWER LINES. Currently there is no method for quantification of concentration and dispersion of charged aerosols near high voltage power lines (HVPLs). However, hypothesis have been presented, but not yet proven scientifically, that residents of houses close to combustion sources such as highways or industrial plants and HVPLs may be subjected to health risk due to inhalation of charged aerosols. The outcome of this project will be a model for quantitative assessment of the processes occurring during the transport and dispersion of corona ions and combustion aerosol, which will be a tool for predictive risk assessment and informed management of public resources in relation to power line design and maintenance.Read moreRead less
Development and validation of a model predicting charged aerosol characteristics in the proximity to high voltage powerlines. With over 780,000 km length of High Voltage Power Lines running through different parts of the country, the scientific and socio-economic benefits to Australia and worldwide include: (i) The developed novel semi-empirical model would become an important tool for research on human exposure and health effects in the vicinity of powerlines and vehicle transport routs, and fo ....Development and validation of a model predicting charged aerosol characteristics in the proximity to high voltage powerlines. With over 780,000 km length of High Voltage Power Lines running through different parts of the country, the scientific and socio-economic benefits to Australia and worldwide include: (i) The developed novel semi-empirical model would become an important tool for research on human exposure and health effects in the vicinity of powerlines and vehicle transport routs, and for developing future directions for management and control strategies for transport and land development plans; (ii) The ultimate benefit of this research will be reduction of risks and thus increase in health and well-being of Australians and reduction in health care costs. Read moreRead less
New methods assisting the detection and attribution of changes in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels. New scientific tools to manage the global environment are an international priority. An Australian breakthrough in technology has the potential to revolutionise the measurement and management of atmospheric carbon dioxide, the single largest anthropogenic contributor to greenhouse warming. The fellowship levers sufficient resources to assess this potential in a number of critical applicatio ....New methods assisting the detection and attribution of changes in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels. New scientific tools to manage the global environment are an international priority. An Australian breakthrough in technology has the potential to revolutionise the measurement and management of atmospheric carbon dioxide, the single largest anthropogenic contributor to greenhouse warming. The fellowship levers sufficient resources to assess this potential in a number of critical applications, including: early detection of predicted increases in Southern Ocean carbon dioxide emission; indefinite low cost monitoring of regional carbon flux changes over continental Australia; improved international standards for CO2 measurement; and improved manufacturing components for use world-wide in trace-gas measurement.Read moreRead less
Impacts of deforestation and afforestation on greenhouse gas emissions, and carbon and water resources in the Daly River catchment, north Australia. Over the last decade, north Australia have been viewed as a potentially exploitable resource, given issues of salinisation, soil acidification, over-allocation of water resources and rainfall declines in south Australian agricultural regions. Improved pastures and plantation forestry are two land uses that may expand in the NT. Clearing of savanna v ....Impacts of deforestation and afforestation on greenhouse gas emissions, and carbon and water resources in the Daly River catchment, north Australia. Over the last decade, north Australia have been viewed as a potentially exploitable resource, given issues of salinisation, soil acidification, over-allocation of water resources and rainfall declines in south Australian agricultural regions. Improved pastures and plantation forestry are two land uses that may expand in the NT. Clearing of savanna vegetation would be required, with implications for greenhouse gas emissions, soil health, water resources and dry season environmental flows. This project will track greenhouse emissions and water use from uncleared and cleared savanna that has been converted to pasture and timber plantations, providing critical understanding of the environmental implication of such land use change in savanna.Read moreRead less