Unlocking the secrets of the groundwater cycle using Si and Li isotopes. This project aims to determine how non-conventional lithium and silicon isotopes can be used to understand groundwater processes using an innovative source-to-target approach. The project aims to apply these isotope tracers to trace the water cycle within a well constrained system: an island aquifer with a dense borefield which has been analysed using traditional isotopic techniques. Supporting hydrochemical data will be us ....Unlocking the secrets of the groundwater cycle using Si and Li isotopes. This project aims to determine how non-conventional lithium and silicon isotopes can be used to understand groundwater processes using an innovative source-to-target approach. The project aims to apply these isotope tracers to trace the water cycle within a well constrained system: an island aquifer with a dense borefield which has been analysed using traditional isotopic techniques. Supporting hydrochemical data will be used to determine the relationship of the isotopes with environmental processes. The project impact will be the development of new methods to help understand our groundwater resource. The improved process understanding will be translated to groundwater management in general. The projects' focus on carbonate aquifer systems typical of coastal regions of southern, eastern and western Australia will have relevance to groundwater management in urban areas such as Perth and in rural areas for tourism and viticulture, and for management of natural resources in National Parks.Read moreRead less
Ecohydrologic functioning of ephemeral streams. This project aims to increase understanding of how surface-groundwater interactions sustain vegetation associated with ephemeral streams. One of the biggest problems faced by mining and regional development in arid regions is how to protect ecological and heritage values of ephemeral streams by minimising impacts of water abstraction and surplus discharge. The project will use environmental tracers, coupled with assessment of vegetation water use a ....Ecohydrologic functioning of ephemeral streams. This project aims to increase understanding of how surface-groundwater interactions sustain vegetation associated with ephemeral streams. One of the biggest problems faced by mining and regional development in arid regions is how to protect ecological and heritage values of ephemeral streams by minimising impacts of water abstraction and surplus discharge. The project will use environmental tracers, coupled with assessment of vegetation water use and numerical modelling, to assess resilience of ephemeral streams to changes in flows resulting from mining activities and climate-related shifts in recharge. Expected outcomes of the project include providing appropriate context for evaluating and adapting management to conserve scarce water resources. This project should significantly contribute to the sustainable management of both mineral and groundwater resources.Read moreRead less
Unsaturated zone functioning in a semi-arid flash flood driven climate. Groundwater is the only perennial water source in arid and semiarid zones, which encompass 1/3 of the global landmass and 70 % of Australia. We still do not fully understand how the unsaturated zone contributes to groundwater recharge in semi-arid zone floodplains. We will study the dynamics of soil moisture, and its contribution to groundwater recharge respective to hydrological regimes and weather patterns. We will measure ....Unsaturated zone functioning in a semi-arid flash flood driven climate. Groundwater is the only perennial water source in arid and semiarid zones, which encompass 1/3 of the global landmass and 70 % of Australia. We still do not fully understand how the unsaturated zone contributes to groundwater recharge in semi-arid zone floodplains. We will study the dynamics of soil moisture, and its contribution to groundwater recharge respective to hydrological regimes and weather patterns. We will measure direct responses to flood events using loggers and compare them to indirect measurements inferred from hydrochemical and isotope tracer models to better understand recharge patterns, evaporative losses, and interactions between surface runoff, floodplains, and aquifers at different positions in the landscape.Read moreRead less
Unravelling the cycling of nitrogen along a subtropical freshwater-marine continuum using a multi-isotope, multi-tracer and modelling approach. This project will significantly advance our understanding of the sources, cycling and pathways of nitrogen along a sub-tropical catchment-river-estuary. As such, the findings from this research will have direct implications to the management, rehabilitation and protection of waterways (including biodiversity) in Australia.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE140100141
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,000.00
Summary
High sensitivity and precision mass spectrometry for tracing Australia's ancient evolution and securing our future groundwater resources. High sensitivity and precision mass spectrometry for tracing Australia’s ancient evolution and securing our future groundwater resources: Micro-sampling thermal ionisation mass spectrometry (TIMS) provides the ability to undertake ultra low-level isotope analysis of earth and environmental samples. Analysis of radiogenic (for example, Neodymium, Strontium and ....High sensitivity and precision mass spectrometry for tracing Australia's ancient evolution and securing our future groundwater resources. High sensitivity and precision mass spectrometry for tracing Australia’s ancient evolution and securing our future groundwater resources: Micro-sampling thermal ionisation mass spectrometry (TIMS) provides the ability to undertake ultra low-level isotope analysis of earth and environmental samples. Analysis of radiogenic (for example, Neodymium, Strontium and Lead) and stable (for example, Boron) isotopes allows researchers to trace the evolution of the Australian continent from its beginnings in the Precambrian through to the impacts of climate change in the Quaternary period (the last 2.6 million years). The proposed micro-sampling TIMS facility will give researchers the opportunity to characterise mineral deposit formation, paleoclimate records and groundwater sources with new levels of accuracy and precision. This will help secure the economic and environmental future of Australia.Read moreRead less
Sulfur Cycling in Toxic Oozes, Microbialites and Petroleum. This project will apply compound specific sulfur isotope analyses to sulfur-rich deposits from extreme environments including sulfidic black oozes (Peel-Harvey estuary); modern microbialites (for example, Shark Bay) and oils/source rocks (established and frontier oil fields). Sulfur isotopic data, integrated with other stable isotopic and molecular data, will greatly assist the study of sulfur biogeochemical cycles and mechanisms of org ....Sulfur Cycling in Toxic Oozes, Microbialites and Petroleum. This project will apply compound specific sulfur isotope analyses to sulfur-rich deposits from extreme environments including sulfidic black oozes (Peel-Harvey estuary); modern microbialites (for example, Shark Bay) and oils/source rocks (established and frontier oil fields). Sulfur isotopic data, integrated with other stable isotopic and molecular data, will greatly assist the study of sulfur biogeochemical cycles and mechanisms of organic sulfurisation at different diagenetic stages or geological ages. The project aims to address national concerns through measuring the respective impact of anthropogenic and natural changes on environments, helping to understand the evolution of life on Earth and contributing to efficient discovery of our natural petroleum systems.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE150100139
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$160,000.00
Summary
Isotope analyser with delta17O capability to examine water fluxes. Isotope analyser with delta-17-O capability to examine water fluxes: This project aims to investigate a range of processes, including quantifying evaporative losses, moisture recycling, groundwater-surface water interactions, and records of past climate in ice cores using novel capabilities for continuous measurement of triple oxygen isotopes (16-O, 17-O, 18-O) in water vapour. Enhanced understanding of water cycles is critical f ....Isotope analyser with delta17O capability to examine water fluxes. Isotope analyser with delta-17-O capability to examine water fluxes: This project aims to investigate a range of processes, including quantifying evaporative losses, moisture recycling, groundwater-surface water interactions, and records of past climate in ice cores using novel capabilities for continuous measurement of triple oxygen isotopes (16-O, 17-O, 18-O) in water vapour. Enhanced understanding of water cycles is critical for understanding the discrete changes occurring in water regimes under changing climates and land use to efficiently manage our limited freshwater resources. The instrumentation is intended to put Australia at the forefront of new and emerging research in d17O analysis of water, an area that has potential to greatly improve our understanding of the water cycle within arid climates including Antarctica.Read moreRead less
Unravelling the drivers of greenhouse gas emissions in estuaries. The aim of this project is to understand and quantify the factors controlling the emission of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide from estuaries. Coastal systems play a disproportionately large role in the global emissions of greenhouse gases, but this is poorly quantified. The project plans to use a combination of continuous concentration and stable isotope measurements, process measurements and advanced numerical modelling ....Unravelling the drivers of greenhouse gas emissions in estuaries. The aim of this project is to understand and quantify the factors controlling the emission of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide from estuaries. Coastal systems play a disproportionately large role in the global emissions of greenhouse gases, but this is poorly quantified. The project plans to use a combination of continuous concentration and stable isotope measurements, process measurements and advanced numerical modelling across a range of undisturbed to disturbed systems. It is intended that this project will provide information for conceptualising, calibrating and verifying models, including green-house gas production. Good models, and the data that support them, such as that provided by this study, are critical for the efficient allocation of management resources in Australian coastal systems, including by our partners. The findings from this project will have direct implications to the management, rehabilitation and protection of waterways (including biodiversity) in Australia.Read moreRead less
Holding coral reefs together with soluble cement. This project aims to characterise and understand cement formation in coral reefs. Coral reefs are constructed by cementing together aragonite building blocks made by corals. The main cementing agent is high-magnesium calcite, the most soluble carbonate mineral and susceptible to ocean acidification. High-magnesium calcite cements are best developed on the high energy margins of coral reefs. This project will quantify how crustose coralline algae ....Holding coral reefs together with soluble cement. This project aims to characterise and understand cement formation in coral reefs. Coral reefs are constructed by cementing together aragonite building blocks made by corals. The main cementing agent is high-magnesium calcite, the most soluble carbonate mineral and susceptible to ocean acidification. High-magnesium calcite cements are best developed on the high energy margins of coral reefs. This project will quantify how crustose coralline algae produces high-magnesium calcite and controls the dissolution and reprecipitation of high-magnesium cements. This project intends to quantify rates of reef cementation, susceptibility to ocean acidification and warming, and possible mitigating effects of alkalinity addition.Read moreRead less
Balancing estuarine and societal health in a changing environment. This project aims to facilitate sustainable development in a fast-growing coastal region (Peel-Harvey, south-western Australia). By exploiting 30+ year data sets for this catchment-estuary system and integrating ecological, hydrological, biogeochemical, modelling and socio-economic expertise, this project seeks to link primary catchment drivers to estuarine health response (up to higher fauna), quantify estuarine ecological healt ....Balancing estuarine and societal health in a changing environment. This project aims to facilitate sustainable development in a fast-growing coastal region (Peel-Harvey, south-western Australia). By exploiting 30+ year data sets for this catchment-estuary system and integrating ecological, hydrological, biogeochemical, modelling and socio-economic expertise, this project seeks to link primary catchment drivers to estuarine health response (up to higher fauna), quantify estuarine ecological health and ecosystem services under historical and future scenarios, and test resilience across the human–natural system. Envisaged outcomes include evidence-based catchment planning solutions that optimise trade-offs between socio-economic development goals and minimal downstream impacts on estuarine health.Read moreRead less