Understanding global warming using long-term glacier retreat records. This project will determine the sensitivity of climate to future global warming, contributing to understanding one of the greatest problems facing humanity today. We will take an historic approach, determining the effects of the greatest global warming in Earth's recent history after the last ice age 20,000 years ago. By constructing well-dated, accurate records of glacier retreat at key locations, we will quantitatively estim ....Understanding global warming using long-term glacier retreat records. This project will determine the sensitivity of climate to future global warming, contributing to understanding one of the greatest problems facing humanity today. We will take an historic approach, determining the effects of the greatest global warming in Earth's recent history after the last ice age 20,000 years ago. By constructing well-dated, accurate records of glacier retreat at key locations, we will quantitatively estimate temperature change as the planet warmed. These findings will help us understand the future effects of global warming so that we are better prepared for the environmental and economic costs. Read moreRead less
Sea-level change in the Australasian region during the past 6000 years: Understanding the past to predict the future. Interactions of climate, ice, oceans, and solid earth result in complex variations sea level in time and space. This proposal develops a predictive understanding of this change through an interdisciplinary integration of geophysical theory and geologic observations. Focus is on the Australian area and on the present interglacial but the outcomes will be placed in a global frame. ....Sea-level change in the Australasian region during the past 6000 years: Understanding the past to predict the future. Interactions of climate, ice, oceans, and solid earth result in complex variations sea level in time and space. This proposal develops a predictive understanding of this change through an interdisciplinary integration of geophysical theory and geologic observations. Focus is on the Australian area and on the present interglacial but the outcomes will be placed in a global frame. Outcomes will include estimates of rates and amplitudes of sea-level change, of changes in ice volume, of land movements from isostatic and tectonic causes. It also provides the framework necessary for separating natural change from anthropogenic change during the recent past and for predicting future regional and global sea-level change on a century time scale.Read moreRead less
Water availability, evaporative demand and climate change. Water availability is the balance between supply (i.e., rainfall) and evaporative demand. Rainfall is well studied but evaporative demand is not. The scientifically useful measure of evaporative demand is the rate of evaporation of water from a metal pan - called pan evaporation. Worldwide measurements show decreasing pan evaporation rate over the last 30-50 years. This project will for the first time make a detailed study of that phenom ....Water availability, evaporative demand and climate change. Water availability is the balance between supply (i.e., rainfall) and evaporative demand. Rainfall is well studied but evaporative demand is not. The scientifically useful measure of evaporative demand is the rate of evaporation of water from a metal pan - called pan evaporation. Worldwide measurements show decreasing pan evaporation rate over the last 30-50 years. This project will for the first time make a detailed study of that phenomenon using a new purpose-built evaporation pan. This will result in better information and policy advice about changes in water availability with climate change.Read moreRead less
Quantifying the El Niño-Indian Ocean Dipole system using high-resolution coral palaeoclimate archives. The ocean surrounding Indonesia is the warmest on Earth and a major source of energy for global atmospheric circulation. Understanding the role of the Warm Pool in future climate change is of key importance, but highly controversial because the potential extent of its variability is largely unknown. To address this issue, this project will provide the first major geochemical investigation of ....Quantifying the El Niño-Indian Ocean Dipole system using high-resolution coral palaeoclimate archives. The ocean surrounding Indonesia is the warmest on Earth and a major source of energy for global atmospheric circulation. Understanding the role of the Warm Pool in future climate change is of key importance, but highly controversial because the potential extent of its variability is largely unknown. To address this issue, this project will provide the first major geochemical investigation of recently discovered ancient corals in Indonesia using state-of-the-art microanalytical techniques. Outcomes from these palaeoclimate records will advance our understanding of global climate change, rainfall variability related to the El Nino - Indian Ocean Dipole system, and Australian drought.Read moreRead less
The Indian Ocean Dipole, Australasian drought, and the great-earthquake cycle: Long-term perspectives for improved prediction. The protracted drought across Australia and Boxing Day 2004 earthquake in Sumatra defied prediction, and are causing incalculable environmental, economic, and social harm. Knowledge of past climate extremes will enhance our ability to predict climate change, and alleviate adverse affects for Australasian nations who miss-out in the future redistribution of life-giving mo ....The Indian Ocean Dipole, Australasian drought, and the great-earthquake cycle: Long-term perspectives for improved prediction. The protracted drought across Australia and Boxing Day 2004 earthquake in Sumatra defied prediction, and are causing incalculable environmental, economic, and social harm. Knowledge of past climate extremes will enhance our ability to predict climate change, and alleviate adverse affects for Australasian nations who miss-out in the future redistribution of life-giving moisture. Insights into the great-earthquake cycle will help fulfil Australia's responsibility to predict tsunamis, for the benefit of nations fringing Australasian seismotectonic zones. Development of improved techniques in palaeoclimatology, palaeoclimate modelling, and palaeoseismology will provide new collaborations and opportunities for research, training, and education.Read moreRead less
Environmental geodesy: variations of sea level and water storage in the Australian region. It is essential for Australia's long-term planning and security that the effects of global warming on our nation's water resources and coastlines are quantified. Sea level variations projected into the future vary around Australia and have large uncertainties, yet the impacts have substantial social and financial ramifications for our community. Australia hasn't yet quantified accurately its critical water ....Environmental geodesy: variations of sea level and water storage in the Australian region. It is essential for Australia's long-term planning and security that the effects of global warming on our nation's water resources and coastlines are quantified. Sea level variations projected into the future vary around Australia and have large uncertainties, yet the impacts have substantial social and financial ramifications for our community. Australia hasn't yet quantified accurately its critical water resources nor how they are changing. This proposal will address both these issues, providing for the first time valuable and accurate information for planning appropriate strategies to mitigate the impact of sea level rise and water storage on the Australian society.Read moreRead less
Tracking the response of terrestrial and ocean waters to climate variations using space gravity observations. Climate change puts Australia at risk from sea level rise and an increase in the occurrence and intensity of droughts. We need to learn about issues concerning the water cycle that are still poorly understood, such as whether droughts cause a reduction in only surface water or also water stored in underground reservoirs and what happens to ocean waters when thermal expansion causes an in ....Tracking the response of terrestrial and ocean waters to climate variations using space gravity observations. Climate change puts Australia at risk from sea level rise and an increase in the occurrence and intensity of droughts. We need to learn about issues concerning the water cycle that are still poorly understood, such as whether droughts cause a reduction in only surface water or also water stored in underground reservoirs and what happens to ocean waters when thermal expansion causes an increase in sea surface height in some regions but not others. This proposal will provide new and accurate scientific information on the risks of sea level rise through the effects of thermal expansion of the oceans, in particular in shallow coastal zones. It will help us to understand droughts, variations in water resources and groundwater recharge patterns.Read moreRead less
THE CORAL RECORD OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS IN THE GREAT BARRIER REEF:QUANTIFICATION OF ANTHROPOGENIC FLUXES. The objective of this proposal is to quantify the environmental impacts of enhanced terrestrial fluxes and climate change on the coral reefs in the Great Barrier Reef. This will be achieved by using an integrated approach based on coral proxy records of river plumes and sea surface temperatures that are preserved in carbonate skeletons of the long-lived (200-400 year old) Porites coral. ....THE CORAL RECORD OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS IN THE GREAT BARRIER REEF:QUANTIFICATION OF ANTHROPOGENIC FLUXES. The objective of this proposal is to quantify the environmental impacts of enhanced terrestrial fluxes and climate change on the coral reefs in the Great Barrier Reef. This will be achieved by using an integrated approach based on coral proxy records of river plumes and sea surface temperatures that are preserved in carbonate skeletons of the long-lived (200-400 year old) Porites coral. This will be integrated with monitoring and process studies of river flood plumes and coral reefs and provide a scientific basis to ensure the long-term sustainability of the GBR.Read moreRead less
Climate Change, Industrial Structure and the Knowledge Economy: Key Issues for an Effective Response on Greenhouse Gases. The objectives of this project are to undertake a major, long term study of the impact of global structural change on greenhouse gas emissions and on climate change, and to develop a detailed knowledge base concerning trade in embodied emissions. It is hoped that the knowledge generated will both inform global responses to this vital problem and contribute to the continuing d ....Climate Change, Industrial Structure and the Knowledge Economy: Key Issues for an Effective Response on Greenhouse Gases. The objectives of this project are to undertake a major, long term study of the impact of global structural change on greenhouse gas emissions and on climate change, and to develop a detailed knowledge base concerning trade in embodied emissions. It is hoped that the knowledge generated will both inform global responses to this vital problem and contribute to the continuing development of effective responses within Australia. The output - a book and many papers - will be directed in part to contribute to the IPCC's Fourth Assessment Report.Read moreRead less
Climate Change Projections and Policy Design Under Uncertainty. The issue of climate change and policy responses is one of the most important questions facing the world today. This research develops a global framework for understanding the many complexities surrounding this issue, for undertaking projections of emissions, for evaluating alternative policy proposals and for developing new policies. In particular it will provide a framework for undertaking alternative scenarios about future econom ....Climate Change Projections and Policy Design Under Uncertainty. The issue of climate change and policy responses is one of the most important questions facing the world today. This research develops a global framework for understanding the many complexities surrounding this issue, for undertaking projections of emissions, for evaluating alternative policy proposals and for developing new policies. In particular it will provide a framework for undertaking alternative scenarios about future economic growth and carbon emissions and attempt to quantify uncertainties. It will also focus on major developing countries such as China and India which will be critical in the future evolution of world economic activity and greenhouse emissions.Read moreRead less