EM/ProfGreg Skilbeck

Following on from work initiated during Leg 161, in 1997 I commenced a research program on sedimentary evolution and palaeoclimate archives of the Myall Lakes system (eastern NSW), supported by an ARC small grant and Australian Nuclear Science Institute support for 14C dating. The project has now evolved into of a larger study of south, central and eastern Pacific palaeoclimate records and recent sea level history. Over the intervening period co-workers and I have collected, logged and sampled ~40 cores from Myall and Tuggerah Lakes and Fullerton Cove (NSW), from Barbers Point (Oahu, Hawaii) and most recently from the Peru continental margin during Leg 201 of the ODP in which I participated as a physical properties specialist. Project support has come from internal UTS and the ARC (3 grants) in Australia, and through Sea Grant and NSF funds. The overall project, which involves international co-operation with scientists from the USA, UK and Italy, has started to yield exciting, important and significant results.

Palaeo El Nino: Study of laminated sediments from the Peru continental margin. Cores collected during Leg 201 of the ODP. Currently analysing early Post Glacial section (in Hole 1227B) and Holocene sections (in Holes 1228B and 1229E). The work is included as a project in the International Atomic Energy Agency (UNESCO) Co-ordinated Research Project on the Nuclear and Isotope Studies of the El Nino Phenomenon Project K41009, 2004-2009). Funded by Australian ODP, IAEA, AINSE grants.

Eastern Australian Palaeoclimate and Environmental Archives: Study of eastern Australian temperate estuary sediments from Tuggerah Lakes to Myall Lakes. Investigating sedimentation history and palaeoclimate history of region. Funded by ARC Discovery Project DP0209388 (2002-2004).