Nanocomposite Mesoporous Materials for Gas Separations of Environmental Significance. The management of greenhouse and other acid gas emissions is vital to a sustainable future of both the economy and the ecosystem. This project will develop novel nano-materials for gas separation by tethering organic functional groups to the surface of porous inorganic supports. These materials offer the promise of combining the high selectivity and high capacity of liquid phase absorption systems with the rapi ....Nanocomposite Mesoporous Materials for Gas Separations of Environmental Significance. The management of greenhouse and other acid gas emissions is vital to a sustainable future of both the economy and the ecosystem. This project will develop novel nano-materials for gas separation by tethering organic functional groups to the surface of porous inorganic supports. These materials offer the promise of combining the high selectivity and high capacity of liquid phase absorption systems with the rapid transport rates of gas-solid adsorption systems. Success would open up several new possibilities for reengineering gas separation systems based on the use of these materials in solution, as solid phase adsorbents (pressure swing adsorption) and/or as permeselective gas membranes.Read moreRead less
Iron in the Antarctic sea ice zone and its role in the past and future climate. The Antarctic sea ice environment has remained poorly investigated for decades as it is difficult to access. Recent scientific advances have revealed that melting sea ice may provide a significant amount of the plant micro-nutrient iron to the Southern Ocean. Given that polar waters are iron-deficient and seasonal sea ice affects ~14 million square kilometres of ocean, the importance of iron fertilisation from deca ....Iron in the Antarctic sea ice zone and its role in the past and future climate. The Antarctic sea ice environment has remained poorly investigated for decades as it is difficult to access. Recent scientific advances have revealed that melting sea ice may provide a significant amount of the plant micro-nutrient iron to the Southern Ocean. Given that polar waters are iron-deficient and seasonal sea ice affects ~14 million square kilometres of ocean, the importance of iron fertilisation from decaying sea ice and its effect on global climate urgently need to be evaluated. This proposal aims at improving our understanding of Earth's complex system, and will inform future climate change policy in Australia.
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Interdisciplinary greenhouse gas assessment - nitrous oxide emissions from marine wastewater disposal. Data generated during this research will resolve ongoing uncertainties surrounding a blind spot in national greenhouse gas (GHG) abatement policy and methodology. Current national and international GHG emission estimates are unable to account for N2O emissions resulting from the downstream disposal phase of the wastewater management cycle, and as a result, actual GHG emissions may be far greate ....Interdisciplinary greenhouse gas assessment - nitrous oxide emissions from marine wastewater disposal. Data generated during this research will resolve ongoing uncertainties surrounding a blind spot in national greenhouse gas (GHG) abatement policy and methodology. Current national and international GHG emission estimates are unable to account for N2O emissions resulting from the downstream disposal phase of the wastewater management cycle, and as a result, actual GHG emissions may be far greater than currently estimated. This research will provide primary data on the magnitude of downstream N2O emissions coming from the near-shore marine disposal of primary-level municipal wastewater in Australia. Results from this research will help quantify the carbon footprint associated with marine disposal of poorly treated effluents worldwide.Read moreRead less
Linking modern biolipids and pigments to ancient biomolecules using innovative laser and hydro pyrolysis and compound specific stable isotope techniques. This project will help scientists understand recent and past climate changes and in turn will improve our ability to forecast future climate change and help Australia manage current threats to biodiversity. Furthermore, this research involving analyses of discrete trace hydrocarbon materials will increase the ability to identify crude oil sourc ....Linking modern biolipids and pigments to ancient biomolecules using innovative laser and hydro pyrolysis and compound specific stable isotope techniques. This project will help scientists understand recent and past climate changes and in turn will improve our ability to forecast future climate change and help Australia manage current threats to biodiversity. Furthermore, this research involving analyses of discrete trace hydrocarbon materials will increase the ability to identify crude oil sources, to the benefit of petroleum exploration in Australia and world-wide. Importantly, this project will enable students and young researchers to be trained in state-of-the-art technologies, leading to quality scientists ready for employment in geoscience industries, and raising the profile of science careers in Australia.Read moreRead less
Atmospheric composition and climate change. Changing composition and distribution of atmospheric trace gases and aerosols are the driving forces behind changes in climate and the environment at the earth's surface. This proposal is to undertake a program of ground based infrared remote sensing measurements as part of the Network for Detection of Stratospheric Change to investigate some of the most relevant atmospheric processes and species central to the greenhouse effect and ozone depletion. S ....Atmospheric composition and climate change. Changing composition and distribution of atmospheric trace gases and aerosols are the driving forces behind changes in climate and the environment at the earth's surface. This proposal is to undertake a program of ground based infrared remote sensing measurements as part of the Network for Detection of Stratospheric Change to investigate some of the most relevant atmospheric processes and species central to the greenhouse effect and ozone depletion. State-of-the-art measurements, advances in analysis techniques, and the measurement of isotopic fractionation will all contribute to advances in capabilities. Validation of satellite-based remote sensing instruments is also an important facet of the work.Read moreRead less
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
Innovative measurement and modelling of greenhouse fluxes at regional scales across Australia. Carbon dioxide accounts for around 60% of the enhanced greenhouse effect. This proposal aims to markedly improve knowledge of the exchange of carbon, mostly as CO2, between atmospheric, ocean and land-based reservoirs in the Australian region. This will be achieved through a suite of measurements using innovative technologies: satellite and ground based remote sensing as well in situ measurements at ....Innovative measurement and modelling of greenhouse fluxes at regional scales across Australia. Carbon dioxide accounts for around 60% of the enhanced greenhouse effect. This proposal aims to markedly improve knowledge of the exchange of carbon, mostly as CO2, between atmospheric, ocean and land-based reservoirs in the Australian region. This will be achieved through a suite of measurements using innovative technologies: satellite and ground based remote sensing as well in situ measurements at Darwin and on the Ghan railway from Darwin to Adelaide. The measurements will be used to constrain inverse models of the carbon cycle and significantly reduce uncertainties in regional carbon source estimates. These estimates will in turn be compared to the Australian National Greenhouse Gas Inventory for comparison and verification.Read moreRead less
Characteristics of organic matter formed in toxic, sulfide-rich modern and ancient environments. This project will help scientists understand past climate changes and understand the mechanisms of global warming. This in turn will improve our ability to forecast future climate change, and help Australia manage current threats to its biodiversity. Furthermore, this research involving Australia's major petroleum rocks will increase the ability to identify crude oil sources, to the benefit of petrol ....Characteristics of organic matter formed in toxic, sulfide-rich modern and ancient environments. This project will help scientists understand past climate changes and understand the mechanisms of global warming. This in turn will improve our ability to forecast future climate change, and help Australia manage current threats to its biodiversity. Furthermore, this research involving Australia's major petroleum rocks will increase the ability to identify crude oil sources, to the benefit of petroleum exploration in Australia and world-wide. Importantly, this project will enable students and young professionals to be trained in state-of-the-art technologies, leading to quality scientists ready for employment in geoscience industries, and raising the profile of science careers in Australia.
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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
Chemostat experiments to mimic toxic environments associated with mass extinction events. This project will help scientists understand past climate changes and understand the mechanisms of global warming. This in turn will improve our ability to forecast future climate change, and help Australia manage current threats to its biodiversity. Importantly, this project will enable students and young professionals to be trained in state-of-the-art technologies, leading to quality scientists ready for ....Chemostat experiments to mimic toxic environments associated with mass extinction events. This project will help scientists understand past climate changes and understand the mechanisms of global warming. This in turn will improve our ability to forecast future climate change, and help Australia manage current threats to its biodiversity. Importantly, this project will enable students and young professionals to be trained in state-of-the-art technologies, leading to quality scientists ready for employment in geoscience industries, and raising the profile of science careers in Australia.Read moreRead less