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  • <div>The A1 poster incorporates 4 images of Australia taken from space by Earth observing satellites. The accompanying text briefly introduces sensors and the bands within the electromagnetic spectrum. The images include examples of both true and false colour and the diverse range of applications of satellite images such as tracking visible changes to the Earth’s surface like crop growth, bushfires, coastal changes and floods. Scientists, land and emergency managers use satellite images to analyse vegetation, surface water or human activities as well as evaluate natural&nbsp;hazards.</div>

  • Geoscience Australia is the national custodian for coastal geoscientific data and information. The organisation developed the OzCoasts web-based database and information system to draw together a diverse range of data and information on Australia's coasts and its estuaries. Previously known as OzEstuaries, the website was designed with input from over 100 scientists and resource managers from more than 50 organisations including government, universities and the National Estuaries Network. The former Coastal CRC and National Land and Water Resources Audit were instrumental in coordinating communication between the different agencies. Each month approximately 20,000 unique visitors from more than 140 countries visit the website to view around 80,000 pages. Maps, images, reports and data can be downloaded to assist with coastal science, monitoring and management. The content is arranged into six inter-linked modules: Search Data, Conceptual Models, Coastal Indicators, Habitat Mapping, Natural Resource Management, Landform and Stability Maps. More....

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Results are given of investigations carried out to detect any variation in the relative proportions of the several heavy minerals in heavy concentrates separated out from beach sands of the Broadbeach Recreational Area. The possible variation of the thoria content of monazite in the area is also investigated. Results indicate a systematic variation from east to west in the proportion of Zircon, rutile and ilmenite in the concentrates. The thoria content of the monazite in the area is shown to be constant within experimental limits.

  • An assessment of the potential impacts of climate change on coastal communities has been undertaken in collaboration with the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency (DCCEE). This first-pass national assessment includes an evaluation of the exposure infrastructure (residential and commercial buildings, as well as roads and rail) to sea-level rise (SLR), storm surge and coastal recession. Some of the information contained in this report was included in the Department of Climate Change (now Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency) report "Climate Change Risks to Australia's Coast", published in 2009, and its supplement published in 2011.

  • The upper Swan River estuary located in the eastern suburban area of Perth in Western Australia experiences periods of poor water quality in the form high nutrient levels, anoxic bottom water conditions and occasional nuisance algae blooms. It has long been suspected that oxygen uptake and nutrient release from estuarine sediments are major drivers for these poor water quality conditions. Geoscience Australia in conjunction with the Department of Water in Western Australia investigated water quality in the upper Swan River estuary through water and sediment quality studies in October 2006, September 2007 and May 2008. The objectives of these studies were (1) to characterise the distribution of sediments, in particular to identify areas of high nutrient release, (2) to better understand conditions leading to high oxygen consumption and nutrient release, and (3) to determine the influence of the bottom water oxygen status on nutrient release from sediments.