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University of Wollongong

Earth Sciences

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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Strategic Approaches For Management Of Risk In Geomechanics, R. Chowdhury, P. Flentje Oct 2008

Strategic Approaches For Management Of Risk In Geomechanics, R. Chowdhury, P. Flentje

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

This paper outlines the challenges facing geomechanics and advocates some strategies for dealing with these challenges. Advancement of geomechanics and its application in the past may be seen in a historical context as serving the needs of society such as the development of infrastructure and natural resources. The needs of society are changing rapidly due to population growth, increasing urbanisation and globalisation. Climate change poses specially challenges, the impacts increasing with time. Therefore, development of new strategies is essential. For example, greater attention should be given to the development of interdisciplinary approaches. It is vitally important that systematic methods be …

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The Holocene Paleo-Tsunami History Of West Australia, S. R. Scheffers, A. Scheffers, D. Kelletat, Edward A. Bryant Jan 2008

The Holocene Paleo-Tsunami History Of West Australia, S. R. Scheffers, A. Scheffers, D. Kelletat, Edward A. Bryant

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

West Australian coastlines experienced several tsunamis in mid-Holocene times. To expand our knowledge about Holocene tsunami events in West Australia, the authors extended the previously studied spatial scale to include the central- and south-western coastlines. Several of the discovered events were mid- and young Holocene (≤1000 yr BP) tsunami impacts on the outer coast of the Cape Range Peninsula. Five hundred kilometres to the south between Cape Cuvier and Point Quobba, additional tsunami evidence exists on top of steep cliffs over a coastal stretch of 30 km. The sedimentary signature of two tsunamis is documented in this area by wide …

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Coastal Systems And Low-Lying Areas, R. J. Nicholls, P. P. Wong, V. Burkett, J. Codignotto, J. Hay, R. Mclean, S. Ragoonaden, C. D. Woodroffe, P. A. O. Abuodha, J. Arblaster, B. Brown, D. Forbes, J. Hall, S. Kovats, J. Lowe, K. Mcinnes, S. Moser, S. Rupp-Armstrong, Y. Saito Jan 2007

Coastal Systems And Low-Lying Areas, R. J. Nicholls, P. P. Wong, V. Burkett, J. Codignotto, J. Hay, R. Mclean, S. Ragoonaden, C. D. Woodroffe, P. A. O. Abuodha, J. Arblaster, B. Brown, D. Forbes, J. Hall, S. Kovats, J. Lowe, K. Mcinnes, S. Moser, S. Rupp-Armstrong, Y. Saito

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

Since the IPCC Third Assessment Report (TAR), our understanding of the implications of climate change for coastal systems and low-lying areas (henceforth referred to as ‘coasts’) has increased substantially and six important policy-relevant messages have emerged. Coasts are experiencing the adverse consequences of hazards related to climate and sea level (very high confidence). Coasts are highly vulnerable to extreme events, such as storms, which impose substantial costs on coastal societies [6.2.1, 6.2.2, 6.5.2]. Annually, about 120 million people are exposed to tropical cyclone hazards, which killed 250,000 people from 1980 to 2000 [6.5.2]. Through the 20th century, global rise of …

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Human-Induced Stresses On Mangrove Swamps Along The Kenyan Coast, P. A. O. Abuodha, J. G. Kairo Jan 2001

Human-Induced Stresses On Mangrove Swamps Along The Kenyan Coast, P. A. O. Abuodha, J. G. Kairo

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

Mangroves form important ecosystems in Kenya's coastal areas. They produce goods and services that are of environmental, ecological and economic importance to human society. However, mangroves are under continuing pressure from anthropogenic disturbances. A particular concern has been the clearing of mangrove areas to reclaim land for other uses such as aquaculture, salt manufacture, agriculture and housing. About 10 000 ha of mangrove areas have been cleared for salt manufacture between Ngomeni and Karawa, while in Lamu, close to 100 ha of mangrove forest was killed by dredged-up sediment that was deposited during the construction of the Mokowe sea jet. …

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Morphology And Process On The Lateritic Coastline Near Darwin, Northern Australia, R. W. Young, Edward A. Bryant Jan 1998

Morphology And Process On The Lateritic Coastline Near Darwin, Northern Australia, R. W. Young, Edward A. Bryant

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

Coastal morphology near Darwin is controlled mainly by the gentle warping of a lateritic profile. In synclines the lateritic cuirasse forms extensive shore platforms, but on the anticlines the pallid zone of the weathering profile is eroded by waves, causing the undercut cuirasse to collapse. The dominant modern process on the shore platforms is solutional attack on the laterite, resulting in large depressions. Many of the platforms are covered by relict layers of cemented laterite cobbles transported by waves of high energy. C14 ages on carbonate cement between the cobbles show that one sheet was deposited at about 3700 BP …

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