Lunar crustal structure from high-res gravity, topography, and seismic data. This project aims to improve our knowledge of the Moon, including its surface processes, interior structure, modification by geological processes and creation and evolution. The Moon preserves the longest and cleanest records of surface geology in the Solar System’s history, unlike the Earth. The lunar crust should exhibit strong heterogeneity in density (both porosity and composition) given its complex history of impac ....Lunar crustal structure from high-res gravity, topography, and seismic data. This project aims to improve our knowledge of the Moon, including its surface processes, interior structure, modification by geological processes and creation and evolution. The Moon preserves the longest and cleanest records of surface geology in the Solar System’s history, unlike the Earth. The lunar crust should exhibit strong heterogeneity in density (both porosity and composition) given its complex history of impact bombardment and volcanism. This project aims to determine radial and lateral heterogeneity in density and porosity within the Moon's crust, by analysing Gravity Recovery And Interior Laboratory gravity and spacecraft tracking data, Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter topography and in situ Apollo seismological data.Read moreRead less
Geodetic and hydrogeological investigations of groundwater abstraction from confined aquifers: elastic response, heights, and sea level change. Parts of Perth are subsiding by as much as 5 millimetres (mm) per year, thus accelerating sea level rise relative to the land from 3 mm per year to 8 mm per year. The subsidence is most likely due to increased groundwater abstraction. This project aims to extend subsidence mapping in time and space using satellite-borne synthetic aperture radar, calibrat ....Geodetic and hydrogeological investigations of groundwater abstraction from confined aquifers: elastic response, heights, and sea level change. Parts of Perth are subsiding by as much as 5 millimetres (mm) per year, thus accelerating sea level rise relative to the land from 3 mm per year to 8 mm per year. The subsidence is most likely due to increased groundwater abstraction. This project aims to extend subsidence mapping in time and space using satellite-borne synthetic aperture radar, calibrated by complementary geodetic techniques, and coupled with new hydrogeological inputs from the Western Australian Department of Water. The research aims to provide science-based information to planners and managers on coastal vulnerability and determine the land response to groundwater abstraction. This will also allow for the correction of sea level change measurements from tide gauges.Read moreRead less
Application of the Wavelet Transform to Isostatic Analyses in Australia. Existing methods of determining the Earth's isostatic response assume ideal but unrealistic conditions. This project will develop a new technique for isostatic analysis, using the two-dimensional wavelet transform. This tool can resolve spectral components of geophysical data in the space domain, thus avoiding the problems arising during the conventional Fourier analysis. With innovative processing methods, maps of the crus ....Application of the Wavelet Transform to Isostatic Analyses in Australia. Existing methods of determining the Earth's isostatic response assume ideal but unrealistic conditions. This project will develop a new technique for isostatic analysis, using the two-dimensional wavelet transform. This tool can resolve spectral components of geophysical data in the space domain, thus avoiding the problems arising during the conventional Fourier analysis. With innovative processing methods, maps of the crustal thickness from gravity and topography data can be generated, a task usually reserved for costly seismic experiments. Analysis of the wavelet power spectrum would also benefit the exploration industry by identifying previously unknown sedimentary basins.Read moreRead less
Validation of Synthetic Regional Gravity Field Models. This research will further develop the theoretical and practical methods required to test any model of the Earth's gravity field. Previously, geodesists have had to rely on analytical error estimates, usually based on observed data. A synthetic Earth gravity model avoids this scenario by giving an exact validation technique of the methods used. The synthetic model will allow users of geoid models (e.g., for GPS heighting) to have much mor ....Validation of Synthetic Regional Gravity Field Models. This research will further develop the theoretical and practical methods required to test any model of the Earth's gravity field. Previously, geodesists have had to rely on analytical error estimates, usually based on observed data. A synthetic Earth gravity model avoids this scenario by giving an exact validation technique of the methods used. The synthetic model will allow users of geoid models (e.g., for GPS heighting) to have much more confidence in their results. When used with a precise geoid model, GPS is faster and cheaper than conventional spirit-levelling, offering around 800% productivity gains. Read moreRead less
Investigations of the Integrity of the Australian Height Datum. The Australian Height Datum (AHD) forms the fundamental framework for all vertical spatial information in Australia. It supports a wide range of applications in areas such as geodesy, surveying, mapping, telecommunications, resource exploration and environmental science. This medium-term research programme will investigate the many issues surrounding the integrity of the AHD, and will rigorously redefine, correct and unify it with ....Investigations of the Integrity of the Australian Height Datum. The Australian Height Datum (AHD) forms the fundamental framework for all vertical spatial information in Australia. It supports a wide range of applications in areas such as geodesy, surveying, mapping, telecommunications, resource exploration and environmental science. This medium-term research programme will investigate the many issues surrounding the integrity of the AHD, and will rigorously redefine, correct and unify it within a global vertical framework. This will provide improved height information to the numerous users of the AHD in Australia, and allow Australia to contribute more fully to the global spatial data infrastructure.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE110100054
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,230,000.00
Summary
Ground station facility for membership of the atomic clock ensemble in space mission. This is a unique opportunity for Australian membership of a high profile space mission involving atomic clocks on board the International Space Station and in the world's best frequency and time laboratories. The results obtained will lead to a better understanding of the unification of quantum mechanics and relativity as well as aspects of fundamental Earth metrology.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190101389
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$325,000.00
Summary
Imaging, analysing and forecasting Australian hazards with satellites. This project aims to improve Australia’s ability to anticipate geophysical hazards. It will generate a new national capability in the use of satellite radar imagery to monitor and manage geohazards, benefiting all communities. By producing high-resolution maps of ground displacements, the project will assess the controls upon where and why these events occur, and whether they exhibit precursory behaviour. This is the first st ....Imaging, analysing and forecasting Australian hazards with satellites. This project aims to improve Australia’s ability to anticipate geophysical hazards. It will generate a new national capability in the use of satellite radar imagery to monitor and manage geohazards, benefiting all communities. By producing high-resolution maps of ground displacements, the project will assess the controls upon where and why these events occur, and whether they exhibit precursory behaviour. This is the first step towards accurate hazard forecasting and in building Australia's capability for near-real-time geophysical hazard monitoring on a national scale. The outputs will impact upon future recommendations for national earthquake and landslide monitoring and deliver new tools to underpin regulation of resource extraction and inform construction codes.Read moreRead less
Ellipsoidal physical geodesy - improved global and local gravity field modelling. Improved techniques for gravity field modelling, using the ellipsoidal approach proposed in this research, will increase the accuracy of the Australian geoid model. A more accurate model of the geoid will bring great cost-benefits mainly to the Australian surveying, mapping and exploration community. For example, height determination from GPS [Global Positioning System] or similar satellite-based measurements is on ....Ellipsoidal physical geodesy - improved global and local gravity field modelling. Improved techniques for gravity field modelling, using the ellipsoidal approach proposed in this research, will increase the accuracy of the Australian geoid model. A more accurate model of the geoid will bring great cost-benefits mainly to the Australian surveying, mapping and exploration community. For example, height determination from GPS [Global Positioning System] or similar satellite-based measurements is only possible with the aid of an accurate geoid model. This will allow the use GPS to its full capacity and save valuable time and money (by as much as a factor of 10).Read moreRead less
Prediction of Sea Level Change around Australia and its Calibration and Validation by Satellite-Geodetic Measurements. The redistribution of mass and loading due to deglaciation will change the gravity field, spin axis and centre of mass of the Earth. As such, global sea level will not rise by the same amount in all places, and will even fall in some. This project will extend our realistic Earth model, constructed from a previous ARC grant, to simulate such changes in sea level. These simulat ....Prediction of Sea Level Change around Australia and its Calibration and Validation by Satellite-Geodetic Measurements. The redistribution of mass and loading due to deglaciation will change the gravity field, spin axis and centre of mass of the Earth. As such, global sea level will not rise by the same amount in all places, and will even fall in some. This project will extend our realistic Earth model, constructed from a previous ARC grant, to simulate such changes in sea level. These simulated values will be compared with contemporary estimates of ice mass balance and temporal gravity changes measured by satellite geodesy. Ultimately, this will allow for more informed management of sea level change in Australasia.Read moreRead less
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