Unravelling the history of nitrogen cycling within the central Great Barrier Reef. This project aims to use coral skeleton geochemical analysis to establish if, when, and how nitrogen cycling changed along the central inshore region of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) lagoon. Increasing anthropogenic nitrogen discharge to coastal waters could drive ecosystem decline in the GBR, one of Australia’s most sensitive and economically valuable natural environments. However, the full effect of anthropogenic ....Unravelling the history of nitrogen cycling within the central Great Barrier Reef. This project aims to use coral skeleton geochemical analysis to establish if, when, and how nitrogen cycling changed along the central inshore region of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) lagoon. Increasing anthropogenic nitrogen discharge to coastal waters could drive ecosystem decline in the GBR, one of Australia’s most sensitive and economically valuable natural environments. However, the full effect of anthropogenic nitrogen is unclear due to a lack of long, continuous records. This project will unravel the history of nitrogen cycling in the GBR since the mid-1800s, knowledge crucial for managing this reef system.Read moreRead less
Iron sources and cycling in the Tasman Sea. Determining factors that influence the health and vitality of coastal and open-ocean regions is crucial to maintaining marine biodiversity and the Earth's climatic balance. This research project will determine the role iron plays in influencing phytoplankton growth, which ultimately regulates the drawdown of carbon dioxide by the oceans.
Factors influencing the bioavailability of iron in marine waters. Strong evidence now exists that iron availability controls the productivity and species composition of planktonic organisms in open oceans and coastal and estuarine environments. The mechanisms by which iron is rendered available and induces growth remain unclear but appear to involve, in many instances, light and both generic and specific organic complexants of iron. In this study, we investigate the effect of selected naturally ....Factors influencing the bioavailability of iron in marine waters. Strong evidence now exists that iron availability controls the productivity and species composition of planktonic organisms in open oceans and coastal and estuarine environments. The mechanisms by which iron is rendered available and induces growth remain unclear but appear to involve, in many instances, light and both generic and specific organic complexants of iron. In this study, we investigate the effect of selected naturally occurring complexants on redox transformations of iron with particular emphasis given to the potential ability of organics and light to increase the bioavailability of iron.Read moreRead less
Atmospheric CO2, global temperature, and surface ocean acidity response to fossil carbon burning - insights from an ancient analogue. Sequestration of anthropogenic CO2 emissions by the oceans and the impacts of resulting ocean acidification and greenhouse warming upon marine ecosystems are vital to understanding the course of future environmental change. This research will improve knowledge of the biological and chemical responses in the ocean to past changes in atmospheric CO2 levels and incre ....Atmospheric CO2, global temperature, and surface ocean acidity response to fossil carbon burning - insights from an ancient analogue. Sequestration of anthropogenic CO2 emissions by the oceans and the impacts of resulting ocean acidification and greenhouse warming upon marine ecosystems are vital to understanding the course of future environmental change. This research will improve knowledge of the biological and chemical responses in the ocean to past changes in atmospheric CO2 levels and increased ocean acidity. This will assist in predicting the consequences of different fossil fuel burning scenarios for climate and marine life, especially the future viability of organisms like corals, molluscs, and calcareous plankton that underpin key tourism and marine production systems.Read moreRead less
Effects of uptake of carbon and nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorous and silicon) on pH among phytoplankton species: implications for ocean acidification feedback mechanisms. Anthropogenic CO2 emission has caused a decrease in the ocean pH, which may affect coral reefs. The project will study two processes, as the feedback mechanisms, which can increase pH in seawater, uptake of additional CO2 by algae directly and stimulated by the human input of nitrogen and phosphorus.
Measuring the flushing time of waters in the Great Barrier Reef. There are concerns both in the scientific community and in the general public about the possible implications of agricultural runoff to the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). Due to this, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority has developed a "Reef Water Quality Protection Plan" (RWQPP) which may have significant economic implications to the grazing, sugar, and other primary industries. In order to protect the GBR, whilst also minimiz ....Measuring the flushing time of waters in the Great Barrier Reef. There are concerns both in the scientific community and in the general public about the possible implications of agricultural runoff to the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). Due to this, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority has developed a "Reef Water Quality Protection Plan" (RWQPP) which may have significant economic implications to the grazing, sugar, and other primary industries. In order to protect the GBR, whilst also minimizing the impacts on agricultural industries, it is important to understand the processes that affect the buildup and broad-scale dispersion of contaminants in the GBR. This project will facilitate that understanding.Read moreRead less
Contribution of surf zone wind stress to storm surge inundation. In the present era of climate change, storm surge forecasting is becoming an increasingly important part of disaster management planning. The responsible state and national agencies require accurate forecasting tools in order to best safeguard communities and plan infrastructure. Storm surges result from low pressure atmospheric conditions and wind forces on the ocean. However, the wind forces on the surf zone are unknown, with the ....Contribution of surf zone wind stress to storm surge inundation. In the present era of climate change, storm surge forecasting is becoming an increasingly important part of disaster management planning. The responsible state and national agencies require accurate forecasting tools in order to best safeguard communities and plan infrastructure. Storm surges result from low pressure atmospheric conditions and wind forces on the ocean. However, the wind forces on the surf zone are unknown, with the result that inaccurate warnings are issued to communities. This project will lead to significant improvements in forecast accuracy by providing this missing data and by developing new models for the surf zone wind forcing. 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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MODAL AND DIRECTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SEASTATES AND THEIR IMPACT ON DYNAMICS OF MOORED OFFSHORE SYSTEMS. Under certain conditions a typical sea can becomes bimodal comprising of wind-driven seas and long period swells interacting from two directions. Using a nonlinear model, the occurrence and characteristics of bimodal and bi-directional seastates are quantified.
Low frequency oscillations of a moored offshore structure have profound design influence on the mooring system. A nonlinear res ....MODAL AND DIRECTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SEASTATES AND THEIR IMPACT ON DYNAMICS OF MOORED OFFSHORE SYSTEMS. Under certain conditions a typical sea can becomes bimodal comprising of wind-driven seas and long period swells interacting from two directions. Using a nonlinear model, the occurrence and characteristics of bimodal and bi-directional seastates are quantified.
Low frequency oscillations of a moored offshore structure have profound design influence on the mooring system. A nonlinear response model for a floating vessel in bimodal and bi-directional seastates, will be developed using nonlinear dynamics techniques. The numerical models for the environment and the floating platform will be validated by experiments at the Ocean Basin in Canada.
The project adopts a holistic approach by considering the environment and the moored platform as a complex natural system. With excellent opportunities for technology transfer, the project also benefits from substantial in-kind contributions of the overseas PIs.
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The Southern Ocean's role in determining atmospheric CO2 levels: new insights from novel biogenic silica records of seawater pH. About half the emissions from the burning of fossil fuel since the Industrial Revolution have been absorbed by the oceans. However, considerable uncertainty surrounds the consequences of and the extent to which the oceans will continue to sequester CO2 into the future. This research will improve existing limited knowledge of the key biological and related ocean process ....The Southern Ocean's role in determining atmospheric CO2 levels: new insights from novel biogenic silica records of seawater pH. About half the emissions from the burning of fossil fuel since the Industrial Revolution have been absorbed by the oceans. However, considerable uncertainty surrounds the consequences of and the extent to which the oceans will continue to sequester CO2 into the future. This research will improve existing limited knowledge of the key biological and related ocean processes that transfer CO2 between the surface and depth, and the poorly understood effects on marine ecosystems of increasing ocean acidity due to CO2 absorption. This knowledge will contribute to predicting the course of future climate change and gauging the impacts on marine life and production systems.Read moreRead less