Towards Distributed Phased Array Radar for High Resolution Weather Monitoring. Several recent reports on climate change by leading international and national bodies forecast that the rate of weather hazards such as storms and wind-shear, and of weather-associated phenomena such as bush fires will increase over the next 40 years. The current technology for monitoring weather events, and effects like wind-shift, which has a serious impact on dangers associated with bush fires, has significant wea ....Towards Distributed Phased Array Radar for High Resolution Weather Monitoring. Several recent reports on climate change by leading international and national bodies forecast that the rate of weather hazards such as storms and wind-shear, and of weather-associated phenomena such as bush fires will increase over the next 40 years. The current technology for monitoring weather events, and effects like wind-shift, which has a serious impact on dangers associated with bush fires, has significant weaknesses. We will deliver considerable improvements in monitoring capability by developing the technology for using a network of small phased array radars. We aim to place monitoring resources where end-user needs are greatest.Read moreRead less
Looking back to see the future: Change in the Lambert Glacier and the East Antarctic Ice Sheet. To develop a comprehensive understanding of the Lambert Glacier of East Antarctica, from the time of the last maximum glaciation to the present, through an integrated and interdisciplinary study combining new field evidence - ice retreat history, geodetic measurements of crustal rebound, satellite measurements of present ice heights and changes therein - with other geological and glaciological data an ....Looking back to see the future: Change in the Lambert Glacier and the East Antarctic Ice Sheet. To develop a comprehensive understanding of the Lambert Glacier of East Antarctica, from the time of the last maximum glaciation to the present, through an integrated and interdisciplinary study combining new field evidence - ice retreat history, geodetic measurements of crustal rebound, satellite measurements of present ice heights and changes therein - with other geological and glaciological data and numerical geophysical modelling advances. The project contributes to the quantitative characterisation of the complex interactions between ice-sheets, oceans and solid earth within the climate system. Outcomes have implications for geophysics, glaciology, geomorphology, climate, and past and future sea-level change.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0232306
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$190,000.00
Summary
GPS receivers and support equipment for geophysical observatories in Antarctica. Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment and supporting electronics systems are required for monitoring of the uplift of the Earth's crust near the Lambert Glacier. This will lead to fundamental insights into the past and present-day mass-balance changes of the Antarctic
ice sheet. This research will provide critical data on the changes in the Antarctic ice sheet, a region where scientific information is currently ....GPS receivers and support equipment for geophysical observatories in Antarctica. Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment and supporting electronics systems are required for monitoring of the uplift of the Earth's crust near the Lambert Glacier. This will lead to fundamental insights into the past and present-day mass-balance changes of the Antarctic
ice sheet. This research will provide critical data on the changes in the Antarctic ice sheet, a region where scientific information is currently poorly defined or lacking altogther. Combined with other geophysical data, the results of this project will produce, for the first time, constraints on the contribution of Antarctica to global ice and sea-level models.
Read moreRead less
Enhancing long-term soil organic carbon sequestration. This project addresses National Research Priority One areas, restoration of land surfaces through sustainable land management practices and sequestration of carbon. The resulting data will be transferable to domestic and international sustainable agricultural and land rehabilitation applications. The project specifically addresses an area of global significance, the long-term, millennia rather than short-term sequestration of terrestrial car ....Enhancing long-term soil organic carbon sequestration. This project addresses National Research Priority One areas, restoration of land surfaces through sustainable land management practices and sequestration of carbon. The resulting data will be transferable to domestic and international sustainable agricultural and land rehabilitation applications. The project specifically addresses an area of global significance, the long-term, millennia rather than short-term sequestration of terrestrial carbon. There will be spin-off benefits including the provision of a formula for sustainable agriculture resources and localised employment opportunities, educational and financial incentives for farmers to improve on-farm soil health as well as health benefits from the reduction of atmospheric CO2.Read moreRead less
Renewable energy from carbon dioxide: Process engineering to obtain bio-oil from algae. The Stern Report (2007)[1] has called for a CO2 REDUCTION BY MORE THAN 80% in 10-20 years to prevent profound changes in the climate over coming centuries. The proposed project will capture CO2 using algae then off-set the capital investment and on-going expenses of the CO2 capture technology by creating high value products from algae (i.e. bio-diesel, livestock feed and purified water). This process aims to ....Renewable energy from carbon dioxide: Process engineering to obtain bio-oil from algae. The Stern Report (2007)[1] has called for a CO2 REDUCTION BY MORE THAN 80% in 10-20 years to prevent profound changes in the climate over coming centuries. The proposed project will capture CO2 using algae then off-set the capital investment and on-going expenses of the CO2 capture technology by creating high value products from algae (i.e. bio-diesel, livestock feed and purified water). This process aims to be independently profitable regarless of future carbon taxes or carbon trading systems. This project also investigates water purification methods and new livestock feed additives which can help reduce the effects of drought on food producers in rural and regional areas. Read moreRead less
A one million year record of relative sea-level, climatic and environmental changes - Aeolianites of the southern Australian continental margin. This project will (1) further refine two dating methods that will revolutionize Australia's capacity to date geological and archaeological events; (2) ensure that Australia remains in the forefront in applied geochronology and that a sufficient level of technical expertise remains within the country; (3) examine the sensitivity of coastal environments t ....A one million year record of relative sea-level, climatic and environmental changes - Aeolianites of the southern Australian continental margin. This project will (1) further refine two dating methods that will revolutionize Australia's capacity to date geological and archaeological events; (2) ensure that Australia remains in the forefront in applied geochronology and that a sufficient level of technical expertise remains within the country; (3) examine the sensitivity of coastal environments to rapid climate and sea-level changes; (4) increase public awareness of the scientific basis for the unique nature of Australia's coastal landscapes; and (5) may also assist in the exploration of strategically important minerals. Read moreRead less
The abundance and isotope composition of pyrogenic carbon in tropical savannas. Tropical savanna burning represents an important but poorly understood component of the global carbon cycle. This project will quantify the dynamics of pyrogenic carbon (charcoal, soot, biochar) production and dispersal during savanna fires. Pyrogenic carbon is important because it can persist in the environment for thousands of years. Hence it represents both a 'sink' for carbon and a source of information about pas ....The abundance and isotope composition of pyrogenic carbon in tropical savannas. Tropical savanna burning represents an important but poorly understood component of the global carbon cycle. This project will quantify the dynamics of pyrogenic carbon (charcoal, soot, biochar) production and dispersal during savanna fires. Pyrogenic carbon is important because it can persist in the environment for thousands of years. Hence it represents both a 'sink' for carbon and a source of information about past environments. The project will also assist in validating 'biochar' as a new tool for carbon sequestration, an enable a deeper understanding of the interactions between fire, humans, vegetation and climate.Read moreRead less
Predicting the effect of climate change on community structure and function: an assessment using temperate grassland invertebrates. This research will set the future agenda for assessing community responses to climate change worldwide. Our findings will be a robust template for future research to incorporate sophisticated multi-species assessments across all taxa and biomes. Results and conclusions from this research will aid graziers, agronomists, government agencies and conservation groups wor ....Predicting the effect of climate change on community structure and function: an assessment using temperate grassland invertebrates. This research will set the future agenda for assessing community responses to climate change worldwide. Our findings will be a robust template for future research to incorporate sophisticated multi-species assessments across all taxa and biomes. Results and conclusions from this research will aid graziers, agronomists, government agencies and conservation groups working in urban, rural and regional landscapes to prepare for changes in species relationships over the coming century. The team of early career researchers will also prepare the next generation of scientists for cutting edge ecological and statistical research within a dynamic and multidisciplinary context.Read moreRead less
Lifetime Affordable Housing in Australia: Integrating environmental performance and affordability. Existing dwellings and the locations of suburban housing with respect to employment centres result in significant greenhouse gas emissions. Water and other environmental issues are also important in housing performance, and there is currently a perceived trade-off between these factors and the affordability of housing. For the first time in Australia, this study will focus on overcoming this appare ....Lifetime Affordable Housing in Australia: Integrating environmental performance and affordability. Existing dwellings and the locations of suburban housing with respect to employment centres result in significant greenhouse gas emissions. Water and other environmental issues are also important in housing performance, and there is currently a perceived trade-off between these factors and the affordability of housing. For the first time in Australia, this study will focus on overcoming this apparent policy dilemma. The research will inform future housing policy in strengthening Australia's economic and social fabric, while contributing towards Australia's National Research Priority 1 'Environmentally Sustainable Australia'. Outcomes will provide significant national economic, social, water use and greenhouse gas benefits for Australia.Read moreRead less
Community Engagement for Localised Greenhouse Reduction: a local government demand-management model for business and household water, energy and waste reduction. New integrated community strategies are needed to deal with the imperative of reducing Australia's carbon footprint. With an explicit focus on enhancing community engagement for localised greenhouse reduction, this project will generate important analysis and policy prescriptions for demand reduction strategies. The development of endur ....Community Engagement for Localised Greenhouse Reduction: a local government demand-management model for business and household water, energy and waste reduction. New integrated community strategies are needed to deal with the imperative of reducing Australia's carbon footprint. With an explicit focus on enhancing community engagement for localised greenhouse reduction, this project will generate important analysis and policy prescriptions for demand reduction strategies. The development of enduring sustainable environment attitudinal and behavioural change is central to the National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Development, which sees a clear role for governments, business and individuals in progressing ecologically sustainable development. The results will contribute to developing new place-based integrated eco-sustainability models for implementation by local/state governments.Read moreRead less