Polar Cap Region Boundary Dynamics. Geomagnetic storms have the potential to severely impair critical technology infrastructure. Consequences of strong geomagnetic activity can include power failures, pipeline corrosion, satellite failures, inaccurate GPS positioning and radio navigation. Knowledge of how, where and under which conditions this activity occurs is therefore crucial. The primary aim of this project is to extend our knowledge of the mechanisms by which this activity occurs. This wor ....Polar Cap Region Boundary Dynamics. Geomagnetic storms have the potential to severely impair critical technology infrastructure. Consequences of strong geomagnetic activity can include power failures, pipeline corrosion, satellite failures, inaccurate GPS positioning and radio navigation. Knowledge of how, where and under which conditions this activity occurs is therefore crucial. The primary aim of this project is to extend our knowledge of the mechanisms by which this activity occurs. This work will consolidate Australia's international space profile and provide excellent training in this field, helping Australia's future technology development.Read moreRead less
What controls the shift from a hot house climate to a cold house climate: the Eocene/ Oligocene climate transition and greenhouse warming. This study contributes to putting Australia on the map as a centre of excellence in the study of past climates as well as in global warming research. It aims at a greater understanding of the dynamics of past warm climate states. This could ultimately lead to a better knowledge of the formation of the ancient deposits that we mine in Australia today. Furtherm ....What controls the shift from a hot house climate to a cold house climate: the Eocene/ Oligocene climate transition and greenhouse warming. This study contributes to putting Australia on the map as a centre of excellence in the study of past climates as well as in global warming research. It aims at a greater understanding of the dynamics of past warm climate states. This could ultimately lead to a better knowledge of the formation of the ancient deposits that we mine in Australia today. Furthermore, the study of these past warm climates tells us something about current global warming as both involve increased levels of carbon in the atmosphere. The impact of climate change on Australia is likely to be large. Our study of past warm climates helps to gain an understanding of the mechanisms behind climate change and help quantify the risks of climate change posed to Australia.Read moreRead less
The equable climate conundrum: the role of the global ocean in multiple climate regimes. This study will enhance Australia's global engagement in the research of past climates and global warming, and lead to a better understanding of the dynamics and modelling of warm climate states. This will contribute significantly to climate research in Australia and could lead to a better knowledge of the formation of the ancient deposits that we mine today. Furthermore, the study of past warm climates tel ....The equable climate conundrum: the role of the global ocean in multiple climate regimes. This study will enhance Australia's global engagement in the research of past climates and global warming, and lead to a better understanding of the dynamics and modelling of warm climate states. This will contribute significantly to climate research in Australia and could lead to a better knowledge of the formation of the ancient deposits that we mine today. Furthermore, the study of past warm climates tells us something about current global warming, as both involve increased levels of carbon in the atmosphere. The impact of climate change on Australia is likely to be large. This study of past warm climates will improve our understanding of climate change physics and help quantify the risks of climate change posed to Australia.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0668470
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$250,000.00
Summary
High resolution Fourier transform infrared spectrometer for atmospheric remote sensing and laboratory spectroscopy. Climate change is a major global concern, with the potential for major consequences in Australia. This proposal contributes directly to climate change research relevant to Australia through direct measurements of the atmosphere relevant to the understanding of phenomena such as increasing greenhouse gas concentrations and stratospheric ozone depletion. Australia's geographical posi ....High resolution Fourier transform infrared spectrometer for atmospheric remote sensing and laboratory spectroscopy. Climate change is a major global concern, with the potential for major consequences in Australia. This proposal contributes directly to climate change research relevant to Australia through direct measurements of the atmosphere relevant to the understanding of phenomena such as increasing greenhouse gas concentrations and stratospheric ozone depletion. Australia's geographical position in the less populated southern hemisphere, and its advanced scientific infrastructure, mean that it has an especially important and valuable role to play in global atmospheric research. The proposed research participates in several international research programmes.Read moreRead less
Simulating the evolution of the Southern Ocean and Australia's Palaeo-environment over 40 million years. Our project falls in the first national research priority: an environmentally sustainable Australia and meets two of its primary goals, understanding environmental change and the evolution of biodiversity, and responding to climate change and variability. Our models will represent a major step forward in differentiating between natural processes and anthropological input to present global cli ....Simulating the evolution of the Southern Ocean and Australia's Palaeo-environment over 40 million years. Our project falls in the first national research priority: an environmentally sustainable Australia and meets two of its primary goals, understanding environmental change and the evolution of biodiversity, and responding to climate change and variability. Our models will represent a major step forward in differentiating between natural processes and anthropological input to present global climate change and will address quantitatively how Australia changed from a continent rich in freshwater to the driest inhabited continent throughout the last 40 million years.Read moreRead less
Helium droplets: a nanoscale laboratory for studying intermolecular bonding and chemical reactivity. This type of research requires a rather complicated apparatus capable of creating a stream of helium droplets, embedding molecules and interrogating their properties using laser spectroscopy. The apparatus built in Sydney is the only one capable of this in Australia and using this new apparatus we will create many novel, bizarre and intriguing aggregates of molecules and atoms. The project involv ....Helium droplets: a nanoscale laboratory for studying intermolecular bonding and chemical reactivity. This type of research requires a rather complicated apparatus capable of creating a stream of helium droplets, embedding molecules and interrogating their properties using laser spectroscopy. The apparatus built in Sydney is the only one capable of this in Australia and using this new apparatus we will create many novel, bizarre and intriguing aggregates of molecules and atoms. The project involves cutting-edge scientific methods and will shift the boundaries of can-do science in the laser laboratory at the University of Sydney and in Australia in general.Read moreRead less
Checking the validity of photographic identification documents: Enhancing the performance of security personnel through increased understanding of unfamiliar face processing. The ability to accurately establish the identity of an individual is central to the national security of Australia. Identity checking often relies on facial photographs contained on passports and other documents. Despite the introduction of automated systems, the decision whether a photograph is of a person rests with human ....Checking the validity of photographic identification documents: Enhancing the performance of security personnel through increased understanding of unfamiliar face processing. The ability to accurately establish the identity of an individual is central to the national security of Australia. Identity checking often relies on facial photographs contained on passports and other documents. Despite the introduction of automated systems, the decision whether a photograph is of a person rests with human operators. Research by CI has demonstrated that this task is difficult and error prone. The proposed research seeks to improve performance by developing a fuller understanding of the nature of the task and the limits of the operators' abilities and by testing possible training and selection procedures.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0882787
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$390,000.00
Summary
An Integrated Raman Microscope and in Situ STM-TEM Analysis System. The imaging and analytical capabilities of SEM and chemical and structural characterisation afforded by Raman spectroscopy will be unique, allowing both rapid morphological observation and elemental analysis at the macro and nanoscale. The in-situ TEM holder will further assist through in-situ characterization of advanced materials at the nano-scale level. In combination, these instruments will underpin groundbreaking research i ....An Integrated Raman Microscope and in Situ STM-TEM Analysis System. The imaging and analytical capabilities of SEM and chemical and structural characterisation afforded by Raman spectroscopy will be unique, allowing both rapid morphological observation and elemental analysis at the macro and nanoscale. The in-situ TEM holder will further assist through in-situ characterization of advanced materials at the nano-scale level. In combination, these instruments will underpin groundbreaking research in diverse research fields developing new advanced nanomaterials and bio-nanomaterials with significant impact on many industries with great economical and environmental benefits. Read moreRead less
Physics of High Power Pulsed Plasmas for Materials Synthesis. The new science produced will have a direct benefit on the synthesis of a new generation of materials for many applications, such as transparent conductive oxides, multilayer structures, and heat mirror materials for glazings. Many of these materials will help reduce energy consumption in the built environment and hence Australia's emission of greenhouse gases. Furthermore, it will help to develop environmentally clean production met ....Physics of High Power Pulsed Plasmas for Materials Synthesis. The new science produced will have a direct benefit on the synthesis of a new generation of materials for many applications, such as transparent conductive oxides, multilayer structures, and heat mirror materials for glazings. Many of these materials will help reduce energy consumption in the built environment and hence Australia's emission of greenhouse gases. Furthermore, it will help to develop environmentally clean production methods for many existing as well as new applications by replacing liquid based production techniques such as electroplating which generate toxic liquid wastes. Read moreRead less
Formation of organic pollutants in fires of treated and contaminated wood. This project quantifies the emission of dioxins and biphenyls in burning of treated and contaminated wood to provide data on whether combustion of such materials should be regulated in Australia and whether an educational campaign needs to be mounted to make public aware of this problem. For example, our preliminary results indicate that, timber treated with copper boron azole, a non-arsenic replacement for CCA preservat ....Formation of organic pollutants in fires of treated and contaminated wood. This project quantifies the emission of dioxins and biphenyls in burning of treated and contaminated wood to provide data on whether combustion of such materials should be regulated in Australia and whether an educational campaign needs to be mounted to make public aware of this problem. For example, our preliminary results indicate that, timber treated with copper boron azole, a non-arsenic replacement for CCA preservative, produces extremely high levels of dioxins, both in flames and in the ash. If the preliminary results are confirmed, this agent must be disallowed as a wood preservative in Australia, as it poses unacceptable risks to the Australian population and environment. Read moreRead less