Ocean response to tropical cyclone forcing on the Australian North West Shelf. Tropical cyclones are a major hazard for the offshore oil and gas industry. This project will develop the ability to predict the ocean response to tropical cyclones, leading to a paradigm shift in the way industry designs and operates both present and future offshore projects.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE160100146
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$320,000.00
Summary
The marine productivity buoy: a multi-parametric underwater profiler . The marine productivity buoy: a multi-parametric underwater profiler:
The marine productivity buoy is an innovative multi-parametric moored underwater profiler that would provide key information on phytoplankton primary productivity (PP), phytoplankton blooms, and water quality in coastal waters around Australia. The aim is to better understand changes in phytoplankton PP and abundance by synergistically using observations ....The marine productivity buoy: a multi-parametric underwater profiler . The marine productivity buoy: a multi-parametric underwater profiler:
The marine productivity buoy is an innovative multi-parametric moored underwater profiler that would provide key information on phytoplankton primary productivity (PP), phytoplankton blooms, and water quality in coastal waters around Australia. The aim is to better understand changes in phytoplankton PP and abundance by synergistically using observations from the new facility made several times a day from the surface to the seafloor, and spatially extended surface observations from Earth-orbiting ocean colour satellites. Anticipated outcomes are more accurate phytoplankton PP estimates and water quality parameters in Australian coastal waters in support to research and to monitoring of these critical environments.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.
Wave dynamics in topographically-complex coastal reef systems. Both tropical coral and temperate rocky reefs are abundant features of Australia's coastline, yet their hydrodynamics (waves, currents and water levels) are poorly understood relative to other coastal environments such as beaches. This project will elucidate the complex hydrodynamic processes when waves interact with the steep-slopes and large bottom roughness of reefs, by establishing an international research program combining labo ....Wave dynamics in topographically-complex coastal reef systems. Both tropical coral and temperate rocky reefs are abundant features of Australia's coastline, yet their hydrodynamics (waves, currents and water levels) are poorly understood relative to other coastal environments such as beaches. This project will elucidate the complex hydrodynamic processes when waves interact with the steep-slopes and large bottom roughness of reefs, by establishing an international research program combining laboratory and field measurements with numerical modelling. The improved process-understanding of reef hydrodynamics developed through this project will lead to significant advances in our ability to predict the impacts of extreme events (for example, storms and tsunamis) and climate change on coasts, both here and abroad.Read moreRead less
Physical processes in complex coastal reef environments: the dynamics of wave- and tide-dominated systems. Coastal reefs are ubiquitous features of Australia's coastline, yet the dynamics controlling water motion on reefs still remain poorly understood. This project will significantly advance our understanding of coastal processes within reef environments, thus improving predictions of the impacts of extreme storms and climate change on our coasts.
Unravelling the legacy of groundwater pollution to coastal waters. This project aims to resolve whether groundwater polluted decades ago is now seeping out along shorelines, and driving coastal water quality. The project will challenge common assumptions about the sources of chemical pollution to Australian coastal waters using a combination of cutting-edge analytical techniques, modelling, and laboratory investigations. The outcomes of the project will support the development of pollutant budge ....Unravelling the legacy of groundwater pollution to coastal waters. This project aims to resolve whether groundwater polluted decades ago is now seeping out along shorelines, and driving coastal water quality. The project will challenge common assumptions about the sources of chemical pollution to Australian coastal waters using a combination of cutting-edge analytical techniques, modelling, and laboratory investigations. The outcomes of the project will support the development of pollutant budgets and models required for the effective creation of water management solutions. As a result, the project will benefit the management of iconic waterways experiencing persistent, unresolved water quality issues which are costing the government billions of dollars.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180100535
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$392,650.00
Summary
Is groundwater the missing nutrient source to the Great Barrier Reef? This project aims to reveal whether groundwater is a major missing source of nutrients to the Great Barrier Reef. Billions of dollars have been spent on improving water quality in the reef environment, yet nutrient budgets and the sources of pollution remain poorly quantified. This project expects to use cutting-edge technology and modelling to quantify the legacy of past land use practices on groundwater reef-nutrient dynamic ....Is groundwater the missing nutrient source to the Great Barrier Reef? This project aims to reveal whether groundwater is a major missing source of nutrients to the Great Barrier Reef. Billions of dollars have been spent on improving water quality in the reef environment, yet nutrient budgets and the sources of pollution remain poorly quantified. This project expects to use cutting-edge technology and modelling to quantify the legacy of past land use practices on groundwater reef-nutrient dynamics. The expected outcomes of this study will provide both land and marine managers with crucial insight into how to allocate resources to best manage water quality to meet desired environmental outcomes.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.
Coupled physical and biogeochemical dynamics on the Australian North West Shelf. Information regarding the natural function of the Australian North West Shelf is urgently required to sustainably manage the often conflicting uses of the region. This project will study the role of ocean processes in driving ocean productivity on the North West Shelf and determine the impact of projected climate variability.
Hot iron: Are submarine volcanoes important for Southern Ocean iron supply? The scarcity of iron limits biological productivity and carbon uptake in the nutrient rich waters of the Southern Ocean. This project will explore for the first time the role of undersea "hot spot" volcanoes in supplying iron to surface waters, thus linking the solid earth and the biosphere. The project will measure iron abundance, reactivity and nutritional value in buoyant plumes emanating from vents near Heard/McDonal ....Hot iron: Are submarine volcanoes important for Southern Ocean iron supply? The scarcity of iron limits biological productivity and carbon uptake in the nutrient rich waters of the Southern Ocean. This project will explore for the first time the role of undersea "hot spot" volcanoes in supplying iron to surface waters, thus linking the solid earth and the biosphere. The project will measure iron abundance, reactivity and nutritional value in buoyant plumes emanating from vents near Heard/McDonald Islands, Australia's only active volcanoes. The project aims to estimate the hydrothermal contribution to regional biological productivity and extrapolate to the whole Southern Ocean. Successful outcomes will benefit Australia by identifying iron sources that govern productivity and carbon uptake of an economically important ecosystem.Read moreRead less