This presentation will provide an overview of geological storage projects and research in Australia.

The dry-tropics of central Queensland has an annual bushfire threat season that generally extends from September to November. Fire weather hazard is quantified using either the Forest Fire Danger Index (FFDI) or the Grassland Fire Danger Index (GFDI) (Luke and McArthur, 1978). Weather observations (temperature, relative humidity and wind speed) are combined with an estimate of the fuel state to predict likely fire behaviour if an ignition eventuates. A high resolution numerical weather model (dynamic downscaling) was utilised to provide spatial texture over the Rockhampton region for a range of historical days where bushfire hazard (as measured at the Rockhampton Airport meteorological station) was known to be severe to extreme. From the temperature, relative humidity and wind speeds generated by the model, the maximum FFDI for each simulated day was calculated using a maximum drought factor. Each of these FFDI maps was then normalised to the value of the FFDI at the grid point corresponding to Rockhampton Airport (ensemble produced). The annual recurrance interval (ARI) of FFDI at Rockhampton Airport for the current climate was calculated from observations by fitting Generalised Extreme Value (GEV) distributions. For future climate, we considered three downscaled General Circulation Models (GCM's) forced by the A2 emission scenario for atmospheric greenhouse gas emissions. The spatial pattern of the 50 and 100 year ARI fire danger rating for the Rockhampton region (current and future climate) was determined. In general, a small spatial increase in the fire danger rating is reflected in the ensemble model average for the 2090 climate. This is reflected throughout the Rockhampton region in both magnitude and extent through 2050 to 2090. Cluster areas of higher (future climate) bushfire hazard were mapped for planning applications. Handbook MODSIM2013 Conference

Geoscience Australia and the CO2CRC operate a greenhouse gas controlled release facility at an experimental agricultural station maintained by CSIRO Plant Industry in Canberra, Australia. The facility is designed to simulate surface emissions of CO2 (and other greenhouse gases) from the soil into the atmosphere. Over 10 different near surface monitoring techniques were trialled at the Ginninderra controlled release site during 2012-2013. Different climatic conditions for the early 2012 release experiment (wet) and late 2013 release experiment (dry) resulted in markedly different sub-surface plume behaviour and surface expression of CO2. Gaseous CO2 was released 2 m below the ground surface from a slotted, 100 m long horizontal well at a rate of 144 kg/d for at least 8 weeks for both experiments. The most obvious difference between the two release experiments was that CO2 leakage expressed at different locations along the well for the two experiments. As also observed in other controlled release experiments internationally, the surface expression of CO2 during these experiments, as measured using a portable soil flux meter, was restricted to localised spots. For the 2012 (wet) release experiment, the leakage was limited to a small intense primary leak (approximately 12 m in diameter) and a neighbouring small secondary leak. In contrast, the leak from the 2013 (dry) release experiment was broader, spread over a longer length of the release well, and did not attain the very high flux intensities observed in the previous year. An array of 1 m deep soil gas wells provided insight into the migration pathways of CO2 in the sub-surface, showing a much broader dispersion of CO2 in the sub-surface compared to the surface CO2 expression. Krypton tracers confirmed that the spread of the introduced gases in the sub-surface was much greater than the surface expression, with different behaviour observed between the 2012 and 2013 experiments. The differences between the years are attributed to changes in groundwater levels, drier conditions, and a larger vadose zone during the 2013 experiment. Eddy covariance (EC) towers were deployed at the site for both experiments with the objective to detect and quantify CO2 emissions. CO2 leaks were detected above the background and the direction of the leak confirmed. However, analysis showed that current methods of EC are not appropriate for quantifying the CO2 leak, as much of the CO2 flux is lost through advection and diffusion below the measurement height. This is because the footprint of the leak is much smaller than the EC tower's footprint, resulting in a highly heterogeneous system that breaches EC's key assumptions. The results suggest that quantification using EC may not be possible for CO2 leaks with small footprints. An array of atmospheric CO2 sensors was also deployed at the site during the experiments. Application of atmospheric tomographic techniques using the point source sensors appears to be a more effective approach than EC for quantifying CO2 emissions. Broad scale leak detection technologies are necessary for surveying areas beyond high risk sites and is the subject of ongoing research at Ginninderra. Airborne hyperspectral and thermal scanning measurements were taken over CO2-impacted, mature wheat and field pea crops. The CO2 impact on plants was characterised through biochemical analysis and observed changes in plant morphology. High resolution ground-based hyperspectral and thermal measurements were taken over tillering barley and wheat, as well as field pea and canola seedlings. Dry conditions and crop stage strongly influenced the effectiveness of the remote sensing techniques for CO2 leak detection. A comparison between the high resolution ground-based and airborne hyperspectral measurements for detecting CO2 impacted plants will be presented as well as an overall assessment of the leak detection techniques. Submitted to the GHGT-12

Since 2012, Geoscience Australia has been providing spatial support and advice to the Crisis Coordination Centre (CCC) within Emergency Management Australia (EMA) as part of our collaboration with the Attorney-General's Department. Geoscience Australia designed the Exposure Report to quickly provide exposure information for timely emergency response and recovery decision-making. This document describes the datasets and processes that create the Exposure Report

In this study, we aim to identify the most accurate methods for spatial prediction of seabed gravel content in the northwest Australian Exclusive Economic Zone. We experimentally examined: 1) whether input secondary variables affect the performance of RFOK and RFIDW, 2) whether the performances of RF, SIMs and their hybrid methods are data-specific, and 3) whether model averaging improves predictive accuracy of these methods in the study region. For RF and the hybrid methods, up to 21 variables were used as predictors. The predictive accuracy was assessed in terms of relative mean absolute error and relative root mean squared error based on the average of 100 iterations of 10-fold cross validation. In this study, the following important findings were achieved: - the predictive errors fluctuate with the input secondary variables; - the existence of correlated variables can alter the results of model selection, leading to different models; - the set of initial input variables affects the model selected; - the most accurate model can be missed out during the model selection; - RF, RFOK and RFIDW prove to be the most accurate methods in this study, with RFOK preferred; and these methods are not data-specific, but their models are, so best model needs to be identified; and - Model averaging is clearly data-specific. In conclusion, model selection is essential for RF and the hybrid methods. RF and the hybrid methods are not data-specific, but their models are. RFOK is the most accurate method. Model averaging is also data-specific. Hence best model needs to be identified for individual studies and application of model averaging should also be examined accordingly. RF and the hybrid methods have displayed substantial potentials for predicting environmental properties and are recommended for further test for spatial predictions in environmental sciences and other relevant disciplines in the future. This study provides suggestions and guidelines for improving the spatial predictions of biophysical variables in both marine and terrestrial environments.

A video for the launch of new Great Barrier Reef bathymetry data on 30 November 2017.

As a participating organisation in the Global Mapping Project, and following discussions held at the 22nd meeting of the International Steering Committee for Global Mapping (ISCGM), the Secretariat of the ISCGM has requested the assistance of Geoscience Australia in the validation of intermediate products of global land cover, the Global Land Cover by National Mapping Organisation (GLCNMO) version 3. The request sent to Geoscience Australia involves the use of existing maps and other materials, based on expertise and knowledge to report the validation of the GLCNMO version 3 datasets.

As part of the Australian Government's National CO2 Infrastructure Plan (NCIP), Geoscience Australia undertook a CO2 storage assessment of the Vlaming Sub-basin. The Vlaming Sub-basin a Mesozoic depocentre within the offshore southern Perth Basin located about 30 km west of Perth, Western Australia. The main depocentres formed during the Middle Jurassic to Early Cretaceous extension. The post-rift succession comprises up to 1500 m of a complex fluvio-deltaic, shelfal and submarine fan system. Close proximity of the Vlaming Sub-basin to industrial sources of CO2 emissions in the Perth area drives the search for storage solutions. The Early Cretaceous Gage Sandstone was previously identified as a suitable reservoir for the long term geological storage of CO2 with the South Perth Shale acting as a regional seal. The Gage reservoir has porosities of 23-30% and permeabilities of 200-1800 mD. The study provides a more detailed characterisation of the post Valanginian Break-up reservoir - seal pair by conducting a sequence stratigraphic and palaeogeographic assessment of the SP Supersequence. It is based on an integrated sequence stratigraphic analysis of 19 wells and 10, 000 line kilometres of 2D reflection seismic data, and the assessment of new and revised biostratigraphic data, digital well logs and lithological interpretations of cuttings and core samples. Palaeogeographies were reconstructed by mapping higher-order prograding packages and establishing changes in sea level and sediment supply to portray the development of the delta system. The SP Supersequence incorporates two major deltaic systems operating from the north and south of the sub-basin which were deposited in a restricted marine environment. Prograding clinoforms are clearly imaged on regional 2D seismic lines. The deltaic succession incorporates submarine fan, pro-delta, delta-front to shelfal, deltaic shallow marine and fluvio-deltaic sediments. These were identified using seismic stratigraphic techniques and confirmed with well ties where available. The break of toe slope was particularly important in delineating the transition between silty slope sediments and fine-grained pro-delta shales which provide the seal for the Gage submarine fan complex. As the primary reservoir target, the Gage lowstand fan was investigated further by conducting seismic faces mapping to characterise seismic reflection continuity and amplitude variations. The suitability of this method was confirmed by obtaining comparable results based on the analysis of relative acoustic impedance of the seismic data. The Gage reservoir forms part of a sand-rich submarine fan system and was sub-divided into three units. It ranges from canyon confined inner fan deposits to middle fan deposits on a basin plain and slump deposits adjacent to the palaeotopographic highs. Directions of sediment supply are complex. Initially, the major sediment contributions are from a northern and southern canyon adjacent to the Badaminna Fault Zone. These coalesce in the inner middle fan and move westward onto the plain producing the outer middle fan. As time progresses sediment supply from the east becomes more significant. Although much of the submarine fan complex is not penetrated by wells, the inner fan is interpreted to contain stacked channelized high energy turbidity currents and debris flows that would provide the most suitable reservoir target due to good vertical and lateral sand connectivity. The middle outer fan deposits are predicted to contain finer-grained material hence would have poorer lateral and vertical communication.

Phase two of the China Australia Geological Storage of CO2 (CAGS2) project aimed to build on the success of the previous CAGS project and promote capacity building, training opportunities and share expertise on the geological storage of CO2. The project was led by Geoscience Australia (GA) and China's Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) through the Administrative Centre for China's Agenda 21 (ACCA21). CAGS2 has successfully completed all planned activities including three workshops, two carbon capture and storage (CCS) training schools, five research projects focusing on different aspects of the geological storage of CO2, and ten researcher exchanges to China and Australia. The project received favourable feedback from project partners and participants in CAGS activities and there is a strong desire from the Chinese government and Chinese researchers to continue the collaboration. The project can be considered a highly successful demonstration of bi-lateral cooperation between the Australian and Chinese governments. Through the technical workshops, training schools, exchange programs, and research projects, CAGS2 has facilitated and supported on-going collaboration between many research institutions and industry in Australia and China. More than 150 experts, young researchers and college students, from over 30 organisations, participated in CAGS2. The opportunity to interact with Australian and international experts at CAGS hosted workshops and schools was appreciated by the participants, many of whom do not get the opportunity to attend international conferences. Feedback from a CAGS impact survey found that the workshops and schools inspired many researchers and students to pursue geological storage research. The scientific exchanges proved effective and often fostered further engagement between Chinese and Australian researchers and their host organisations. The research projects often acted as a catalyst for attracting additional CCS funding (at least A$700,000), including two projects funded under the China Clean Development Mechanism Fund. CAGS sponsored research led to reports, international conference presentations, and Chinese and international journal papers. CAGS has established a network of key CCS/CCUS (carbon capture, utilisation and storage) researchers in China and Australia. This is exemplified by the fact that 4 of the 6 experts that provided input on the 'storage section' of the 12th Five-Year plan for Scientific and Technological Development of Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage, which laid out the technical policy priorities for R&D and demonstration of CCUS technology in China, were CAGS affiliated researchers. The contributions of CAGS to China's capacity building and policy CCUS has been acknowledged by the Chinese Government. CAGS support of young Chinese researchers is particularly noted and well regarded. Letters have been sent to the Secretary of the Department of Industry and Science and to the Deputy CEO of Geoscience Australia, expressing China's gratitude for the Australian Government's support and GA's cooperation in the CAGS project.

Data from surveys along the East Antarctic margin will be presented to provide insights into the diversity and distribution of benthic communities on the continental shelf and slope, and their relationship to physical processes. Seabed video and still imagery collected from the George V shelf and slope and the sub-ice shelf environment of the Amery Ice Shelf indicate that the benthic communities in these regions are highly diverse, and are strongly associated with the physical environment. Variations in seafloor morphology, depth, sediment type and bottom circulation create distinct seabed habitats, such as muddy basins, rugged slope canyons and scoured sandy shelf banks, which are, in turn, inhabited by discrete seabed communities. The infauna dominated muddy basins contrast sharply with the diverse range of filter-feeding communities that occur in productive canyons and rugged inner shelf banks and channels. In the sub-ice shelf environment, differences in organic supply, linked to the circulation patterns, cause distinct differences in the seabed communities. The strong association between benthic communities and seafloor characteristics allows physical parameters to be used to extend our knowledge of the nature of benthic habitats into areas with little or no biological data. Comprehensive biological surveys of benthic communities in the East Antarctic region are sparse, while physical datasets for bathymetry, morphology and sediment composition are considerably more extensive. Physical data compiled within the proposed network of East Antarctic Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) is used to aid our understanding of the nature of the benthic communities. The diversity of physical environments within the proposed MPAs suggests that they likely support a diverse range of benthic communities.