Analysing the oceanographic variables that generate and mobilise coral rubble on the GBR

Overview

There is increasing concern on the effects of global warming and how it is increasing the frequency and severity of disturbance events on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), an enduring living structure on our planet. For example, the intensity and frequency of tropical cyclones is likely to increase and this will also reduce the time available for coral reefs to recover.

Moreover, there are other factors that contribute to the vulnerability of coral to mechanical breakage, such as crown of thorns (CoTs), and bleaching as recorded by Degree Heating Weeks (DHW) and strong waves/surface currents. Coral rubble can also strongly inhibit the ability of young corals to recruit back onto reefs and thus aid reef recovery. Therefore, although not currently considered as a major issue for the GBR, rubble may become an increasing problem in the future.

The Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program (RRAP) is underway on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and is designed as a large-scale collaborative research and development program to develop, test and assess innovative interventions to enhance reef resilience and sustain ecological functions and values. Rubble Stabilisation, a subprogram of RRAP, is a reef-based R&D project that aims to investigate methods to stabilize damaged reef surfaces where dead or degraded corals have become loose and unconsolidated rubble, preventing or slowing reef recovery.

As a first step, it is important to be able to identify coral reefs that can benefit most from restoration strategies: those most vulnerable to rubble formation, and those where prevailing wave regimes can make mobile rubble persist and hinder recovery. Thus, an understanding of the spatio-temporal variability of the main forcing and pre-conditioning factors for rubble generation on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) is highly relevant.

One MPhil scholarship is available. The scholarship is for full-time study and can be used to support living costs. International students will also be considered for a tuition fee sponsorship. Scholarship conditions will be governed by QUTPRA rules.

Research activities

The objective of this project is to analyze spatial-temporal data on the drivers of rubble generation by combining, for example, remote sensing data (e.g. sea surface temperature, altimetry wave data) and hydrodynamic model outputs (current and wave statistics) to describe the conditions before and after extreme and damaging marine episodes.

Outcomes

The expected outcome of this project is the mapping of the main forcing and the present/future pre-conditioning factors associated with rubble generation/remobilization.

Another expected outcome is the analysis of specific marine extreme events and their impact on the GBR and rubble generation.

Skills and experience

The ideal candidate should have basic knowledge on geospatial science and be competent in using ArcGIS and/or QGIS. Some background knowledge in marine science, prior experience with the Great Barrier Reef or other coral reef systems and programming skills (Matlab, R or Python) are also highly desirable.

Scholarships

You may be eligible to apply for a research scholarship.

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Keywords

• extreme waves
• cyclones
• storms
• heatwaves
• crown of thorns

Contact

Contact the supervisor for more information.