Precise global time scale for the oxidation of Earth's atmosphere between 2.6 and 2.0 billion years ago. The rock record from 2600 to 2000 million years ago preserves evidence for dramatically fluctuating greenhouse and icehouse climates at the same time as, and possibly caused by, change from an oxygen-deficient to an oxygen-rich atmosphere. Although the global changes are well-documented, correlation of their timing and duration between continents is poorly constrained. This project aims to re ....Precise global time scale for the oxidation of Earth's atmosphere between 2.6 and 2.0 billion years ago. The rock record from 2600 to 2000 million years ago preserves evidence for dramatically fluctuating greenhouse and icehouse climates at the same time as, and possibly caused by, change from an oxygen-deficient to an oxygen-rich atmosphere. Although the global changes are well-documented, correlation of their timing and duration between continents is poorly constrained. This project aims to redress that problem by producing a precise calibration of the global changes by analysis of the rock records in Australia, Canada and South Africa. It will provide a much needed time framework within which long-term feedback between atmospheric composition and climate can be understood.Read moreRead less
A one million year record of relative sea-level, climatic and environmental changes - Aeolianites of the southern Australian continental margin. This project will (1) further refine two dating methods that will revolutionize Australia's capacity to date geological and archaeological events; (2) ensure that Australia remains in the forefront in applied geochronology and that a sufficient level of technical expertise remains within the country; (3) examine the sensitivity of coastal environments t ....A one million year record of relative sea-level, climatic and environmental changes - Aeolianites of the southern Australian continental margin. This project will (1) further refine two dating methods that will revolutionize Australia's capacity to date geological and archaeological events; (2) ensure that Australia remains in the forefront in applied geochronology and that a sufficient level of technical expertise remains within the country; (3) examine the sensitivity of coastal environments to rapid climate and sea-level changes; (4) increase public awareness of the scientific basis for the unique nature of Australia's coastal landscapes; and (5) may also assist in the exploration of strategically important minerals. Read moreRead less
Constraining the snowball earth: timing and duration of neoproterozoic glaciations using precise Re-Os geochronology. This project aims to investigate the onset and duration of major global glacial events during the period of Earth history when metazoan life first appeared. Understanding such processes will enable insights into both the rate and nature of evolutionary processes, and place constraints of ancient and modern climate models. This will be achieved by establishing a facility to obtain ....Constraining the snowball earth: timing and duration of neoproterozoic glaciations using precise Re-Os geochronology. This project aims to investigate the onset and duration of major global glacial events during the period of Earth history when metazoan life first appeared. Understanding such processes will enable insights into both the rate and nature of evolutionary processes, and place constraints of ancient and modern climate models. This will be achieved by establishing a facility to obtain precise Re-Os isotope age data from sediments at Adelaide University (only the second such in the world), and studying sedimentary rocks preserved in the Centralian Superbasin. A basis for global stratigraphic correlation will also result from the intended program of work.Read moreRead less
The early history of atmospheric oxygen. Atmospheric oxygen is essential for advanced life and its accumulation on the ancient Earth was accompanied by profound environmental, climatic and biological change. This project will clarify the complex interactions between the rise in atmospheric oxygen and changes in the Earth's surface environment, extreme climate change and biospheric evolution.
Human responses to long term landscape and climate change in the Willandra Lakes World Heritage Area. A multi-disciplinary research endeavour that includes the Traditional Tribal Groups from the Willandra Lakes World Heritage Area will investigate the impact of past global climate change on a fragile, semi-arid ecosystem in the continent's southeast. It will document the strategies that Indigenous Australians employed to accommodate large-scale changes in landscape and environment. This work wil ....Human responses to long term landscape and climate change in the Willandra Lakes World Heritage Area. A multi-disciplinary research endeavour that includes the Traditional Tribal Groups from the Willandra Lakes World Heritage Area will investigate the impact of past global climate change on a fragile, semi-arid ecosystem in the continent's southeast. It will document the strategies that Indigenous Australians employed to accommodate large-scale changes in landscape and environment. This work will result in the first integrated account of human and landscape history for an area that has attracted international attention since it was inscribed on the World Heritage register in 1981.Read moreRead less
New tools for old rocks: first cycle provenance information. The aims of this research are to enhance stratigraphic understanding of sedimentary sequences in Western Australia through application of novel provenance fingerprinting tools in K-feldspar (Pb isotopes) & apatite (U-Pb, Sr isotopes and grain chemistry). While much stratigraphic characterization has been based on detrital zircon ages & their correlation to basement sources, two major limitations are apparent: a) zircon may be multicycl ....New tools for old rocks: first cycle provenance information. The aims of this research are to enhance stratigraphic understanding of sedimentary sequences in Western Australia through application of novel provenance fingerprinting tools in K-feldspar (Pb isotopes) & apatite (U-Pb, Sr isotopes and grain chemistry). While much stratigraphic characterization has been based on detrital zircon ages & their correlation to basement sources, two major limitations are apparent: a) zircon may be multicycle, blurring source-sink relationships, b) zircon may be absent in mafic lithologies thus biasing investigations. In this work K-feldspar & apatite provenance investigation will be undertaken on a state wide basis and include case studies in the Yilgarn Craton and Canning & Northern Carnarvon Basins.
Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE100100094
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$110,000.00
Summary
Single-grain optically-stimulated luminescence and dosimetry instruments to service the Sydney metropolitan and greater New South Wales region. This equipment will support projects that address significant environmental challenges in Australia, such as climate change and variability, coastal management and sustainable river and water management, and that assess the impacts and consequences of these challenges for populations living in environmentally sensitive areas. These projects will build on ....Single-grain optically-stimulated luminescence and dosimetry instruments to service the Sydney metropolitan and greater New South Wales region. This equipment will support projects that address significant environmental challenges in Australia, such as climate change and variability, coastal management and sustainable river and water management, and that assess the impacts and consequences of these challenges for populations living in environmentally sensitive areas. These projects will build on established collaborations in Australia, Antarctica and the south-west Pacific and encourage new collaborations with south-east Asian, Egyptian and Argentinean researchers, which will promote Australian research on a world stage. The use of this equipment will also pioneer new dating methodologies to further enhance Australia's place at the forefront of geochronology.Read moreRead less