This record contains the raw Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) data and scanned field notes collected on fieldwork at Adelaide Metropolitan Beaches, South Australia for the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC Project, Resilience to Clustered Disaster Events on the Coast - Storm Surge. The data was collected from 16-19 February 2015 using a MALA ProEx GPR system with 250 MHz shielded, 100 MHz unshielded and 50 MHz unshielded antennaes. The aim of the field work was to identify and define a minimum thickness for the beach and dune systems, and where possible depth to any identifiable competent substrate (e.g. bedrock) or pre-Holocene surface which may influence the erosion potential of incident wave energy. Surface elevation data was co-acquired and used to topographically correct the GPR profiles. This dataset is published with the permission of the CEO, Geoscience Australia.

This record contains the raw Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) data and scanned field notes collected on fieldwork at Old Bar and Boomerang Beaches, NSW for the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC Project, Resilience to Clustered Disaster Events on the Coast - Storm Surge. The data was collected from 3 - 5 March 2015 using a MALA ProEx GPR system with 250 MHz shielded and 100 MHz unshielded antennaes. The aim of the field work was to identify and define a minimum thickness for the beach and dune systems, and where possible depth to any identifiable competent substrate (e.g. bedrock) or pre-Holocene surface which may influence the erosion potential of incident wave energy. Surface elevation data was co-acquired and used to topographically correct the GPR profiles.

This record contains the processed Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) data (.segy), field notes, and shapefiles collected on fieldwork at Old Bar and Boomerang Beaches, NSW for the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC Project, Resilience to Clustered Disaster Events on the Coast - Storm Surge. The data was collected from 3 - 5 March 2015 using a MALA ProEx GPR system with 250 MHz shielded and 100 MHz unshielded antennaes. The aim of the field work was to identify and define a minimum thickness for the beach and dune systems, and where possible depth to any identifiable competent substrate (e.g. bedrock) or pre-Holocene surface which may influence the erosion potential of incident wave energy. Surface elevation data was co-acquired and used to topographically correct the GPR profiles. This dataset is published with the permission of the CEO, Geoscience Australia.

This record contains the processed Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) data (.segy), field notes, and shapefile collected on fieldwork at Adelaide Metropolitan Beaches, South Australia for the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC Project, Resilience to Clustered Disaster Events on the Coast - Storm Surge. The data was collected from 16-19 February 2015 using a MALA ProEx GPR system with 250 MHz shielded, 100 MHz unshielded and 50 MHz unshielded antennaes. The aim of the field work was to identify and define a minimum thickness for the beach and dune systems, and where possible depth to any identifiable competent substrate (e.g. bedrock) or pre-Holocene surface which may influence the erosion potential of incident wave energy. Surface elevation data was co-acquired and used to topographically correct the GPR profiles. This dataset is published with the permission of the CEO, Geoscience Australia.

Objectives 1. To determine the horizontal and vertical extent of hydrogen sulphide (H2S) in Lake Wollumboola sediments. 2. To examine controls on H2S gas production in Lake Wollumboola sediments. Activities 1. During a visit to Lake Wollumboola in November 2001, Geoscience Australia collected sediment samples, from sediment cores to depths of generally 180 mm, and occasionally to 600 mm. 2. The 12 sample sites chosen incorporate the three different sediment types of Lake Wollumboola; marine sands on the eastern side of the lake, central basin muds in the relatively deeper central part of the lake, and fluvial sands and muds on the western side of the lake where the creeks are depositing sediment from the catchment. 3. We measured H2S in sediment porewaters, immediately after sample collection. Porewater sulphate and chloride were measured in the laboratory. 4. Total sulphur, total iron, and total organic carbon were measured in the laboratories at Geoscience Australia, after the survey. Background Bacteria, which occur naturally in Lake Wollumboola's sediments, produce H2S when they breakdown organic matter. The bacteria, which are called sulphate reducing bacteria, utilise sulfate from the water to breakdown the organic matter, and can only operate under oxygen free (anoxic) conditions. Key Findings 1. H2S production in Lake Wollumboola is extensive. The average H2S concentration in the central basin muds and fluvial sands and muds is ~3000 M. At one site in the central basin muds, H2S concentration is greater than 10 000 M. In contrast, the concentration of H2S in the sandy marine sediments on the eastern side of the lake is low in comparison to the central basin muds and fluvial delta sands and muds. The average H2S concentration in the marine sands is 158 M. 2 Measurements of total organic carbon show that the amount of organic matter is higher in the central basin muds and fluvial delta sands and muds (~3.5 wt%) than in the marine sands (~0.8 wt%). Organic matter is the fuel for H2S production. High H2S concentrations in the central basin muds and fluvial delta sands and muds are probably a result of their high organic matter contents. 3. Depth profiles of H2S concentration and sulphate depletion in the central basin muds and fluvial sands and muds show that H2S production is occurring right at the sediment surface and down to depths of 80-100 mm. This implies that H2S could escape directly into the atmosphere, when the central basin muds and fluvial sands and muds are exposed during times of low lake levels. It also suggests that H2S could build up in the bottom layer of water directly above these sediments if the water remains anoxic for periods of time. 4. Total sulphide measurements show that H2S is reacting with iron in the sediments, forming iron sulphide minerals. Iron is an important trapping mechanism for H2S, preventing its escape to the atmosphere. Most sites, however, do not have enough `reactive iron' available and H2S concentrations are able to build-up in the porewaters of the sediment.

No abstract available

The Australian Government, through the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, recognises the need for information that allows communities to decide on a strategy for climate change adaptation. A first pass national assessment of vulnerability to Australia's coast identified that considerable sections of the coast could be impacted by sea level rise. This assessment however, did not provide sufficient detail to allow adaptation planning at a local level. Accounting for sea level rise in planning procedures requires knowledge of the future coastline, which is still lacking. Modelling the coastline given sea level rise is complex, however. Erosion will alter the shores in varied ways around Australia's coastline, and extreme events will inundate areas that currently appear to be well above the projected sea level. Moreover, the current planning practice of designating zones with acceptable inundation risk is no longer practical when considering climate change, as this is likely to remain uncertain for some time. Geoscience Australia, with support from the DCCEE, has now conducted a more detailed study for a local area in Western Australia that was identified to be at high risk in the national assessment. The aim of the project was to develop a localised approach so that information could be developed to support adaptation to climate change in planning decisions at the community level. The approach included modelling a historical tropical cyclone and its associated storm surge for a range of sea level rise scenarios. The approach also included a shoreline translation model that forecast changes in coastal sediment transport. Inundation footprints were created and integrated with Geoscience Australia's national exposure information system, NEXIS, to develop impact assessments on building assets, roads and railways. Studies such as this can be a first step towards enabling the planning process to adapt to increased risk.

No abstract available

Legacy product - no abstract available

Coral reefs occur in shallow water with sea surface temperatures (SST) greater than 18ºC, extending beyond the tropics where warm currents enable their establishment [Hopley et al., 2007]. The southernmost reef in the Pacific Ocean occurs at Lord Howe Island (31° 30°S), fringing 6 km of the western margin of the island, with isolated reef patches on the north, west and eastern sides. The island is a Miocene volcanic remnant on the western flank of the Lord Howe Rise (foundered continental crust) formed of basaltic cliffs rising to 875 m, flanked by Quaternary eolianites [McDougall et al., 1981]. The reefs support 50-60 species of scleractinian corals, whose rates of growth are only slightly slower than in more tropical locations [Harriott and Banks, 2002]. However, carbonate sediments on the surrounding shelf are dominated by temperate biota, such as foraminifera and algal rhodoliths [Kennedy et al., 2002]. Prominent in mid shelf is a broad ridge-like feature that rises from water depths of 30-50 m, which we considered to be a relict coral reef that formerly encircled the island [Woodroffe et al., 2005, 2006]. This paper describes results of sonar swath mapping to determine the extent of the reef, and coring and dating that establishes its age and demise.