EP31A-0982
Critical Zone science in Australia: expanding the range of environmental gradients represented in the international CZO network
Wednesday, 16 December 2015
Poster Hall (Moscone South)
Talitha Santini1, Joshua Larsen1, Matthias Leopold2, Ashlee Laura Denton Dere3, Michael J Liddell4 and David J Chittleborough5, (1)University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia, (2)University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia, (3)University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE, United States, (4)Discipline of Chemistry & Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainable Sciences, James Cook University, Cairns, Qld, Australia, Cairns, Australia, (5)University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
Abstract:
The fledgling Australian Critical Zone Observatory network offers excellent opportunities to expand the range of climatic, lithological, and vegetation gradients currently represented in the international Critical Zone Observatory network. Much of the current Critical Zone science in Australia is being conducted in collaboration with established environmental and ecological monitoring networks to leverage their rich historical datasets, equipment and facilities, and data infrastructure. Building support for the expansion of the Australian network and funding ongoing collaboration with the international CZO network requires engagement with scientists working in Critical Zone disciplines, with policymakers to demonstrate the value of the environmental data and improved understanding of Critical Zone processes and functions to their efforts in protecting and maximising ecosystem services, and with the public through community outreach activities. Recent developments in these areas will be discussed, as well as ongoing collaborations with the international network.
