Natural hazards in Australia : sea level and coastal extremes

The Australian coastal zone encompasses tropical, sub- and extra-tropical climates and accommodates about 80 % of Australia’s population. Sea level extremes and their physical impacts in the coastal zone arise from a complex set of atmospheric, oceanic and terrestrial processes that interact on a range of spatial and temporal scales and will be modified by a changing climate, including sea level rise. This review details significant progress over recent years in understanding the causes of past and projections of future changes in sea level and coastal extremes, yet a number of research questions, knowledge gaps and challenges remain. These include efforts to improve knowledge on past sea level extremes, integrate a wider range of processes in projections of future changes to sea level extremes, and focus efforts on understanding long-term coastline response from the combination of contributing factors

Applications of Satellite Earth Observations section - NEODAAS: Providing satellite data for efficient research

The NERC Earth Observation Data Acquisition and Analysis Service (NEODAAS) provides a central point of Earth Observation (EO) satellite data access and expertise for UK researchers. The service is tailored to individual users’ requirements to ensure that researchers can focus effort on their science, rather than struggling with correct use of unfamiliar satellite data

Satellite monitoring of harmful algal blooms (HABs) to protect the aquaculture industry

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) can cause sudden and considerable losses to fish farms, for example 500,000 salmon during one bloom in Shetland, and also present a threat to human health. Early warning allows the industry to take protective measures. PML's satellite monitoring of HABs is now funded by the Scottish aquaculture industry. The service involves processing EO ocean colour data from NASA and ESA in near-real time, and applying novel techniques for discriminating certain harmful blooms from harmless algae. Within the AQUA-USERS project we are extending this capability to further HAB species within several European countries

Australia's Outback Wilderness

Using existing data, describes potential focus areas for a conservation program supported by the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Nature Conservancy, the ecological processes that maintain the native vegetation, the threats, and local conservation efforts

Understanding the dynamics of fish ecology and movements: Implications for management of a temperate estuarine marine park

The overarching aim of this study was to provide a detailed ecological understanding of the fish fauna of a temperate microtidal estuary in south-western Australia (SWA), the Walpole-Nornalup Marine Park. Located in a global climate change hotspot, this largely unmodified and permanently-open system is the only marine park on the south coast of WA. Despite its small size, it has the highest recreational fishing activity in the bioregion, yet managers lack contemporary understanding of its fish fauna and the ability to detect limits of acceptable change. A multi-faceted monitoring approach combining surveys of fish assemblages and acoustic telemetry was used to address the following key objectives: (1) quantify spatio-temporal shifts in fish faunal composition, (2) assess changes in fish communities, populations and a fish-based index of ecosystem health since the last studies in the 1990s, and (3) track the detailed movements of key fishery species. This study is one of the few globally to characterise fish responses to natural and anthropogenic drivers at the individual, population, community and ecosystem levels. Various structural and functional attributes of fish assemblages were examined throughout the system between day and night, seasons and years from July 2014–May 2016. Forty-seven species from 29 families were recorded, placing this estuary among the most diverse in the region. Marine-associated species, many of fishery importance, dominated the composition. Most ichthyofaunal attributes differed between estuarine regions, day–night, seasons and years, reflecting mainly habitat preferences or, in the case of diel patterns, changes in fish activity and predator–prey interactions. Since the 1990s, marine and warmer-water species have increased in abundance, while larger benthic species have decreased. Size declines in fishery species were also detected. Ecological health of the deeper waters has deteriorated over time, while the reverse occurred in the shallows. These findings likely reflect the effects of accelerated warming and drying of the climate, combined with increased fishing activity. Acoustic tracking of Acanthopagrus butcheri, Chrysophrys auratus, Rhabdosargus sarba (Sparidae) and Platycephalus speculator (Platycephalidae) revealed marked differences in their estuarine-marine connectivity, intra-estuarine use and mobility. Drivers of these patterns, which were mixed among species, principally reflected spawning behaviours, habitat preferences, feeding modes and responses to water temperature and freshwater flow. This is the first multi-species tracking study in a SWA estuary, and highlights their divergent estuarine use, vulnerability to fishing and shifts in niche overlap likely to occur with further climate change. The multiple fish assessment techniques at a range of organisational levels presented here provide a major contribution towards the refinement of robust faunal monitoring regimes, which are currently lacking in Australian estuarine management. Such regimes, combined with sound data on the environmental and social pressures on estuaries, are imperative for the effective management of estuarine ecosystems and their fisheries

Site suitability assessment of spotted gum (Corymbia citriodora subspecies Variegata) forest plantation in south east Queensland for carbon sequestration

The inevitable development brought about by human intervention in the global natural ecosystem has led to a continuous increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions into the atmosphere (IPCC 2013), thereby warming the earth. Forest and other vegetation landscapes have the potential to mitigate this warming by serving as the sinks or storages of carbon dioxide. However, land suitability for carbon sink enterprises must be identified to effect a more productive, profitable and efficient sequestration. Additionally, the impact of soil salinity in the suitability of potential forestation sites and carbon sequestration capacity of forest plantation in saline affected areas is not well understood. This research addressed the problem of site suitability by applying the most appropriate process based model particularly the 3-PG (Physiological Principle in Predicting Growth) to enhance the accuracy of estimated biomass for spotted gum. Salinity was incorporated through the mortality impact of varying salt concentrations in the spotted gum. As carbon sequestration endeavour via forestation was deemed risky in marginal areas such as those with salinity problems, the net present value (NPV) of spotted gum forest plantation was incorporated to determine its financial benefits. Site suitability of this forestation endeavour in southeast Queensland was determined and visualised using the geographical information system (GIS). Mathematical models for spotted gum mortality and soil salinity were developed and integrated with the 3-PG model. Parameterisation of the model using specific climatic and bio-physical parameters for spotted gum was conducted prior to the simulation. These provided confidence in the biomass simulation and projection of carbon sequestered until the end of the rotation period. The estimated total biomass (aboveground and belowground biomass) were converted to carbon and tabulated. The tabulated results were converted into maps using GIS techniques and the Net Present Value of spotted gum was calculated based from its potential for timber, carbon and salinity amelioration. The utilisation of spatial mapping tools, specifically GIS, generated potential suitable sites for carbon sequestration activities in the SEQ region. The study generated maps to identify potential locations suitable for Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI) eligible carbon sequestration projects. The site suitability index (SSI) map showed suitable sites in the northern part of the study area located at SEQ 1 and in the southern part at SEQ 2 and SEQ 8. The SSI map also indicated locations for potential investment in forestation projects. It also suggested that success of the carbon sequestration activities cannot be guaranteed in high rainfall areas where salinity could pose a challenge. If spotted gum plantations are established in southeast Queensland and only the conventional timber is accounted as the source of revenue, then the financial benefits are limited to high rainfall areas with a mean annual increment (MAI) of more than 18 m3 ha-1 yr-1. However, under high saline conditions the viability is questionable. When established under high saline affected areas with carbon and salt amelioration incorporated, then carbon sequestration may become profitable. However, this may only be applicable in a scenario where the carbon price was increased and a conventional timber is added with carbon and soil amelioration benefits. Though suitable sites are limited where this activity is profitable, the potential of spotted gum for soil amelioration under saline affected areas is significant even for an extended long period of time

Dual-duty rainwater harvesting: water supply and urban stream restoration

An exciting epoch is before us where we are focused on transforming urban living to a higher symbiosis with nature. For now, and looking over the immediate horizon, the pursuit is for water sensitive cities with green spaces which encourage a modern lifestyle that is considerate of, connected with and dependent on the natural environment. Practical realisation of this vision is perpetuated by innovations in water sensitive urban design (WSUD). The main objective is to capture, treat and use stormwater at its source, of which rainwater harvesting is fundamental. Rainwater harvesting is well-known as a decentralised water supply alternative or supplement to the centralised water supply services of municipalities. The majority of design and assessment of rainwater tanks is focused on the reliability of supply. Additionally, rainwater tanks can significantly improve urban hydrology by capturing, consuming and effectively removing excess urban runoff. In this dissertation, a new approach is introduced to assess the combined outcomes of rainwater tanks. Dual-duty rainwater tanks are designed to restore degraded aspects of urban hydrology which stream ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to, while providing an alternate water supply. The dual-duty performance framework is applied to examine the implications of enabling environmental flows from rainwater tanks. Research questions are explored: will environmental flows improve dual-duty performance; are adaptive approaches for managing environmental flow superior to a fixed leaking approach; to what extent do environmental flows diminish water supply; can rainwater tanks significantly improve urban stream hydrology in isolation to WSUD or other stormwater management initiatives; and what are the realistic expectations of dual-duty performance across the spectrum of urban residential living in Australia. To answer these questions, a mass-balance rainwater tank simulator UrbanTank © was created and alternate storage arrangements and operating conditions were studied including the conventional tank, where the sole purpose is to supply rainwater to households and environmental flows do not occur; the leaking tank, which trickle-releases environmental flow from a virtual chamber of fixed volume; and the adaptive tank where environmental flow storage is actively regulated by the severity of rainfall statistics, rainfall forecasts and/or a combination of both controls. Also, to qualify simulation results outdoor water use was linked to climatic indices of daily rainfall and daily maximum temperature. Rainwater yield estimates were verified by independent field measurements, simulation and statistical analyses throughout Australia. To allow a comparative assessment of all tank alternatives, a method was developed to supplement the limited duration of rainfall forecast archives. The results demonstrate environmental flows, regardless of the method of operation, significantly improved dual-duty performance; the increasing complexity of adaptive approaches for managing environmental flows was not justified by a significant improvement in dual-duty performance over the simpler leaking tank arrangement; when enabling environmental flows the water supply independence dropped by a marginal 2% while the environmental benefits increased by 33%; the leaking tank was able to achieve on average a 90% compliance with natural hydrology measured by a simplified version of the environmental benefit index, which demonstrates rainwater tank can be used in isolation to WSUD or other stormwater management initiatives; and results from leaking tanks are encouraging over the breadth of simulation scenarios studied. The dissertation concludes by establishing a relationship between dimensionless fractions and the key performance metrics of supply independence and environmental benefit index. These relationships facilitate rapid assessment of the dual-duty performance of conventional and leaking rainwater tanks across the spectrum of urban residential living. Rapid estimates are based on rainfall statistics, which can be potentially determined at any location in Australia and for similar climates elsewhere; and the scope of parameters studied which comprise roof area (100 m2 to 200 m2), tank volume (2.5 kL to 7.5 kL) and annual rainwater demand (44 kL/y to 176 kL/y). This dissertation has introduced a dual-duty framework for the design and assessment of rainwater tanks with a focus on minimising the degradation and demand municipalities place on contiguous water resources. These contributions to research have broadening our scientific knowledge and it is hoped the outcomes will expedite the promotion of water sensitive cities