Research Topics within Earth Physics

Research into the structure and dynamics of the Earth uses a range of physical and mathematical techniques and is grouped into the three themes of Seismology and Mathematical Geophysics, Geophysical Fluid Dynamics, and Geodynamics. The work spans observational, theoretical, laboratory, computational and data oriented studies that are all directed towards understanding the structure and physical processes in the solid and fluid Earth, and their environmental consequences.

Earth Physics Research Topics

	Ice caps and water resources	Changes in mass can be detected from space-gravity missions and provide key information on how polar ice caps are responding to present-day temperature changes and how continental water resources are varying. Under a warming climate scenario, increased precipitation is predicted for low-latitude zones while mid-latitude regions such as southeastern Australia will become drier.
	Seismology	Work in seismology and Mathematical Geophysics covers a variety of studies using wave propagation processes to study the nature of the Earth. The many strands of the research combine field observations, computer modelling, inversion and extensive data analysis to exploit the favourable location of Australia for seismic studies.
	Sea level rise	Sea level is a major key to understanding the climate system because it varies with the volume of the icecaps and thermal expansion of the oceans. Modelling historic sea levels holds the key to understanding present and future variations. Evidence from coral terraces at Huon Penisula, Papua New Guinea show sea level rises of 9-16 m accompanied Heinrich events (30-65 ka). Present-day estimates from satellite altimetry show ~3 mm/yr increase while tide gauge records suggest an acceleration in the 20th Century.
	Computational Geophysics	Research of the Geodynamics Group is concerned with the processes that deform the Earth's crust and lithosphere as well as the planet as a whole. The broad objective is to seek an improved understanding of the physical processes acting on and within the planet through both numerical modeling and observational analysis.
	Ocean Dynamics	The ocean circulation is driven by atmospheric winds, and by sinking of cold, dense water in the polar oceans. This circulation transports heat, chemicals, nutrients and salinity around the global ocean, and represents an important part of the earth's climate and ecosystem.
	Mantle Studies	The amount and site of hydrogen in the upper mantle is important for understanding the geochemical recycling of volatiles, and the evolution of the mantle, atmosphere, and oceans. It has been proposed that the entire water budget of the upper mantle may be accommodated at defect sites in nominally anhydrous minerals such as olivine and orthopyroxene.