Profiles

Joanne Whittaker

Associate Professor Joanne Whittaker

Joanne Whittaker

Associate Professor

Room Level 2 , IMAS Waterfront Building

+61 3 6226 6367 (phone)

Jo.Whittaker@utas.edu.au

Around 200 million years ago, the super continent 'Gondwana' broke apart. The tectonic plates that cover the Earth's surface shifted. Lava erupted between the plates from the Earth's deep interior forming new ocean basins. Today the continents are slowly moving towards each other to eventually rest together once more. The question is why? The answers lie in the deep.

"The earth's special because the outer-most crust is able to move, and that gives us mountain ranges and ocean basins that move and change dynamically through time and that enables life to exist on our planet"

Joanne Whittaker - September 2013

Plate tectonics:
Piecing together a 200 million year old jigsaw puzzle

Marine Geophysicist, Associate Professor Joanne Whittaker, is studying the fundamental processes that drive plate tectonics. She is interested in how the ocean basins form, how the continents move and how the Earth's surface motions react with the viscous interior.

'Essentially, I want to understand how the Earth works. But we are constrained by sparse and incomplete data,' she said.

'Plate tectonics has only been around as a theory since the 1950s. There is good surface data and old rock samples but relatively little data from the deep Earth ocean floor. We know more about the surface of the moon than we do about the deep ocean. Underwater exploration is remote and time-consuming and it is expensive,' said Dr Whittaker.

Associate Professor is studying the past 200 million years, to try and understand where the plates were, why they shifted and what is happening now. The data is fed into modelling to map and reconstruct the movement of the plates.

'It is literally a giant jigsaw puzzle!' She said.

Associate Professor Whittaker is well known for developing an understanding of the interaction between eruptions from the mantle, the earth's molten core, and the surface motions of the tectonic plates.

She studies satellite data of the ocean floor to look for interesting features that reveal information about ancient plate motions and their interaction with the hot, viscous mantle below.

'I love looking at unusual features under the water on satellite data. This is often what directs our research. We want to know what is that thing? How did it get there? Is it a seamount or could it be part of a continent?'

She led the team to explore two big underwater plateaus, together roughly half the size of Tasmania, off the coast of Western Australia, in 2011.

'We collected geological and geophysical data from the ocean floor, and what we found was that the plateaux are little pieces of India that were left behind when it broke off from Western Australia 100-104 million years ago,' she said.

Associate Professor Whittaker is particularly interested in the movement of Australia away from Antarctica around 35 million years ago. She has been collaborating to look at how this separation influenced paleo ocean circulations. Taking core samples from sediments on the ocean floor, they are analysing fossilised fish teeth to determine what the ocean currents and circulations were doing around 35-30 million years ago, and how this was influenced by the position of Australia and Antarctica.

'It provides us with another piece of the jigsaw puzzle. The teeth are like little tape recorders that can tell us a lot about the ocean currents at that time. The currents were effected by the separation of the continents, and the latitude that the continents were at,' said Associate Professor Whittaker.

Understanding the evolution of continents over millions and billions of years can also identify the likely location of mineral, oil and gas deposits. The data collected and models produced by Associate Professor Whittaker are used by industry to inform further exploration.

'If we had funding to not only collect, but process the data, with the increasing power of computer models and simulations, I believe in my lifetime we will become so much closer to understanding the Earth.'

Biography

Associate Professor Jo Whittaker joined the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Science (IMAS) at the University of Tasmania in January 2013. Her research interests are predominantly in plate tectonics, marine geophysics and geodynamics. Jo completed a combine science/commerce undergraduate degree with Honours in Geophysics from the University of Sydney in 2003, followed by a Masters in Geophysics from Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand. She received her PhD, on the tectonic consequences of mid-ocean ridge formation, evolution and subduction, from the University of Sydney in 2008. Following graduation she worked both for industry (GETECH in the UK) and academia (post-doc, University of Sydney).

Career summary

Qualifications

PhD (2008) Tectonic consequences of mid-ocean ridge evolution and subduction - University of Sydney
Master of Geophysics (2005) Late Tertiary vertical movements and sedimentation, McMurdo Sound, Antarctica: The link to historic Antarctic climates - Victoria University of Wellington
BSc (Hons)/Bachelor of Commerce - (2003) University of Sydney

Memberships

Professional practice

Geological Society of Australia
American Geophysical Union
European Geophysical Union

Committee associations

Member of the Australian Marine National Facility Scientific Advisory Committee

Administrative expertise

Jo is the Cross Disciplinary Theme Leader for Ocean Earth Systems at the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies

Teaching

Plate tectonics, mantle plumes, micro-continents, tectonic reconstructions, marine geophysics

Teaching expertise

Jo has experience teaching across a range of geoscience subject areas in both classroom and field based settings in areas such as the fundamentals of plate tectonics, ocean basin formation and morphology, isostacy,mantle plumes, magnetics and marine sedimentation patterns. She also has experience teaching intensive courses, e.g. the use of GMT (a specialised set of open source command line tools widely used in the geosciences), and Gplates (open source plate tectonic reconstruction software).

Teaching responsibility

KEA270 Marine Geosciences
KSA205 Introduction to Oceanography
JFA114 Introduction to Oceanography
KSA306 Advanced Oceanography
KSA418 Marine and Antarctic Environments

Research Appointments

2008-present: Honorary Research Fellow, University of Leeds, UK

Research Invitations

2014: Invited speaker, European Geophysical Union General Assembly
2011: Invited speaker, 36th Professor Harry Messel International Science School: Light and Matter, Sydney
2010: Invited speaker, Austral Portals Symposium, New York, USA
2009: Invited speaker, Marine Geoscience Leadership Symposium, Washington DC, USA
2007: Invited speaker, Emerging Plays in Australasia, Geological Society of London

View more on Professor Jo Whittaker in WARP

Expertise

Jo is an academic in the field of marine geoscience. Her research focuses on understanding fundamental Earth system processes and mechanisms, with a focus on understanding the evolution of Australia, Antarctica, the Southern Ocean, and the Eastern Indian Ocean.

Jo has expertise in:

using geophysical and geological datasets to understand how surface plate tectonics and convection patterns interact to shape the seafloor, ocean basins, continental margins
reconstructing relative and absolute plate tectonic motions
the interaction between surface tectonic processes, deep mantle processes and Large Igneous Province formation
the formation of micro-continents
the interaction between plate tectonic motions and paleo-ocean circulation patterns

Research Themes

Jo's research encompasses two of the University of Tasmania's research themes, the Marine, Antarctic and Maritime theme, aligning with IMAS and the ARC Antarctic Gateway Partnership Special Research Initiative, and the Environment, Resources and Sustainability theme, aligning with research strengths in the School of Physical Sciences and CODES. Her research interests are in the field of plate tectonics, geophysics and geology specifically looking at the formation and evolution of continental margins and oceanic crust. She uses marine geophysical and geological datasets to understand how the interaction of upper mantle convection patterns and surface plate tectonics shape the formation of the seafloor and ocean basins. Studying plate tectonic process and surface and basin geology in concert allows analysis of both horizontal plate tectonic driven vertical mantle driven processes that together control the evolution of ocean basins over millions of years.

Collaboration

Jo's research style is strongly collaborative, manifested by a wide range of national and international co-authors. Nationally, she has robust and productive collaborations, co-authorship, and co-led grants with the EarthByte Group led by ARC Laureate Fellow Professor Dietmar Müller at the University of Sydney, Professor Louis Moresi's group at the University of Melbourne, and Geoscience Australia. She collaborates with leading geophysicists and geodynamicists internationally, e.g. at the California Institute of Technology, University of South Carolina, the University of Hawaii, and University of Oslo.

Awards

2013 L'Oreal 'For Women in Science' Award
2012 Edgeworth David Medal, Royal Society of NSW
2010 NSW Tall Poppy Award, Australian Institute of Policy & Science
2008 Awarded 'Best Oral Presentation' at the Third Eastern Australian Basins Symposium, Sydney
2007 Postgraduate Research Prize, The University of Sydney

Current projects

ARC Discovery Project 150102887: The global consequences of subduction zone congestion
ARC Antarctic Gateway Special Research Initiative: Theme 3
Seed Grant University of New England: Geochemical constraints on the affinity and origin of rocks from the Perth Abyssal Plain
UTAS REGS: Reconstructing the submarine and subglacial East Gondwanan mountain chain
Australian Antarctic Science Grant 4355: Reconstructing East Antarctica in Gondwana: ground-truthing a new tectonic model
Australian Antarctic Science Grant 4338: Submarine volcanism and hydrothermalism around Heard and McDonald Islands

Fields of Research

Structural geology and tectonics (370511)
Stratigraphy (incl. biostratigraphy, sequence stratigraphy and basin analysis) (370510)
Geodynamics (370604)

Research Objectives

Expanding knowledge in the earth sciences (280107)
Precious (noble) metal ore exploration (250305)
Copper ore exploration (250302)

Publications

Jo regularly publishes papers on topics such as plate tectonics, marine geophysics and mantle-surface interaction in journals including Nature, Science, Nature Geoscience, and Earth and Planetary Science Letters papers, and a first-author manuscript is currently under review with Nature Geoscience. In 2009, she was invited to write a News and Views piece for Nature Geoscience. Jo regularly acts as a reviewer, for journals including Nature Geoscience, Geology, Geophysical Research Letters, Gondwana Research, Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems, Geophysical Journal International, and the Journal of Biogeography.

Total publications

115

Highlighted publications

(11 outputs)

Year	Type	Citation
2018	Journal Article	Daczko NR, Halpin JA, Fitzsimons ICW, Whittaker JM, 'A cryptic Gondwana-forming orogen located in Antarctica', Scientific Reports, 8 Article 8371. ISSN 2045-2322 (2018) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-26530-1 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 41Web of Science - 38 Co-authors: Halpin JA Tweet
2016	Journal Article	Whittaker JM, Williams SE, Halpin JA, Wild TJ, Stilwell JD, et al., 'Eastern Indian Ocean microcontinent formation driven by plate motion changes', Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 454 pp. 203-212. ISSN 0012-821X (2016) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.epsl.2016.09.019 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 36Web of Science - 33 Co-authors: Halpin JA Tweet
2015	Journal Article	Scher HD, Whittaker JM, Williams SE, Latimer JC, Kordesch WEC, et al., 'Onset of Antarctic Circumpolar Current 30 million years ago as Tasmanian Gateway aligned with westerlies', Nature, 523, (7562) pp. 580-583. ISSN 0028-0836 (2015) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1038/nature14598 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 118Web of Science - 105 Tweet
2015	Journal Article	Seton M, Flament N, Whittaker J, Muller RD, Gurnis M, et al., 'Ridge subduction sparked reorganization of the Pacific plate-mantle system 60-50 million years ago', Geophysical Research Letters, 42, (6) pp. 1732-1740. ISSN 0094-8276 (2015) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1002/2015GL063057 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 145Web of Science - 138 Tweet
2015	Journal Article	Whittaker JM, Afonso JC, Masterton S, Muller RD, Wessel P, et al., 'Long-term interaction between mid-ocean ridges and mantle plumes', Nature Geoscience, 8, (6) pp. 479-484. ISSN 1752-0894 (2015) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1038/NGEO2437 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 76Web of Science - 66 Tweet
2013	Journal Article	Gibbons AD, Whittaker JM, Muller RD, 'The breakup of East Gondwana: Assimilating constraints from Cretaceous ocean basins around India into a best-fit tectonic model', Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 118, (3) pp. 808-822. ISSN 2169-9313 (2013) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1002/jgrb.50079 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 190Web of Science - 170 Tweet
2013	Journal Article	Whittaker J, Goncharov A, Williams SE, Muller RD, Leitchenkov G, 'Global sediment thickness data set updated for the Australian-Antarctic Southern Ocean', Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems, 14, (8) pp. 3297-3305. ISSN 1525-2027 (2013) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1002/ggge.20181 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 156Web of Science - 146 Tweet
2009	Journal Article	Whittaker J, 'The hydrangeas of plate tectonics', Nature Geoscience, 2, (4) pp. 246-247. ISSN 1752-0894 (2009) [Non Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1038/ngeo492 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 1Web of Science - 1 Tweet
2008	Journal Article	Whittaker J, Muller RD, Roest WR, Wessel P, Smith WHF, 'How supercontinents and superoceans affect seafloor roughness', Nature, 456, (18/25 December 2008) pp. 938-942. ISSN 0028-0836 (2008) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1038/nature07573 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 26Web of Science - 25 Tweet
2007	Journal Article	Whittaker J, Muller RD, Leitchenkov G, Stagg H, Sdrolias M, et al., 'Major Australian-Antarctic Plate Reorganization at Hawaiian-Emperor Bend Time', Science, 318 pp. 83-86. ISSN 0036-8075 (2007) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1126/science.1143769 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 225Web of Science - 214 Tweet
2007	Journal Article	Whittaker J, Muller RD, Sdrolias M, Heine C, 'Sunda-Java trench kinematics, slab window formation and overriding plate deformation since the Cretaceous', Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 255 pp. 445-457. ISSN 0012-821X (2007) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.epsl.2006.12.031 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 69Web of Science - 58 Tweet

Journal Article

(58 outputs)

Year	Citation	Altmetrics
2022	Hochmuth K, Whittaker JM, Sauermilch I, Klocker A, Gohl K, et al., 'Southern Ocean biogenic blooms freezing-in Oligocene colder climates', Nature Communications, 13, (1) Article 6785. ISSN 2041-1723 (2022) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34623-9 [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Hochmuth K Tweet
2022	McCarthy A, Magri L, Sauermilch I, Fox J, Seton M, et al., 'The Louisiade ophiolite: a missing link in the western Pacific', Terra Nova, 34, (2) ISSN 0954-4879 (2022) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1111/ter.12578 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 3Web of Science - 2 Co-authors: McCarthy A; Magri L; Sauermilch I; Fox J; Feig S; Falloon T Tweet
2022	Spain EA, Lamarche G, Lucieer V, Watson SJ, Ladroit Y, et al., 'Acoustic predictors of active fluid expulsion from a hydrothermal vent field, offshore Taupo; Volcanic Zone, New Zealand', Frontiers in Earth Science, 9 Article 785396. ISSN 2296-6463 (2022) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.3389/feart.2021.785396 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 1Web of Science - 1 Co-authors: Spain EA; Lucieer V Tweet
2021	Koppers AAP, Becker TW, Jackson MG, Konrad K, Muller RD, et al., 'Mantle plumes and their role in Earth processes', Nature Reviews Earth and Environment, 2, (6) pp. 382-401. ISSN 2662-138X (2021) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1038/s43017-021-00168-6 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 41Web of Science - 37 Tweet
2021	Maritati A, Halpin JA, Whittaker JM, Daczko NR, Wainman CC, 'Provenance of Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous strata in the Mentelle Basin, southwestern Australia, reveals a trans-Gondwanan fluvial pathway', Gondwana Research, 93 pp. 128-141. ISSN 1342-937X (2021) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.gr.2020.12.032 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 5Web of Science - 5 Co-authors: Maritati A; Halpin JA Tweet
2021	Sauermilch I, Whittaker JM, Klocker A, Munday DR, Hochmuth K, et al., 'Gateway-driven weakening of ocean gyres leads to Southern Ocean cooling', Nature Communications, 12, (1) Article 6465. ISSN 2041-1723 (2021) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26658-1 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 18Web of Science - 17 Co-authors: Sauermilch I; Klocker A Tweet
2021	Staal T, Reading AM, Halpin JA, Whittaker J, 'Antarctic Geothermal Heat Flow Model: Aq1', Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 22, (2) Article e2020GC009428. ISSN 1525-2027 (2021) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1029/2020GC009428 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 12Web of Science - 12 Co-authors: Staal T; Reading AM; Halpin JA Tweet
2020	Hochmuth K, Gohl K, Leitchenkov G, Sauermilch I, Whittaker JM, et al., 'The evolving paleobathymetry of the circum-Antarctic Southern Ocean since 34 Ma: a key to understanding past cryosphere-ocean developments', Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems, 21, (8) Article e2020GC009122. ISSN 1525-2027 (2020) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1029/2020GC009122 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 32Web of Science - 27 Co-authors: Sauermilch I Tweet
2020	Jiang Q, Jourdan F, Olierook HKH, Merle RE, Whittaker JM, 'Longest continuously erupting large igneous province driven by plume-ridge interaction', Geology, 49, (2) pp. 206-210. ISSN 0091-7613 (2020) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1130/G47850.1 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 20Web of Science - 19 Tweet
2020	Maritati A, Danisik M, Halpin JA, Whittaker JM, Aitken ARA, 'Pangea rifting shaped the East Antarctic landscape', Tectonics, 39, (8) Article e2020TC006180. ISSN 0278-7407 (2020) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1029/2020TC006180 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 5Web of Science - 5 Co-authors: Maritati A; Halpin JA Tweet
2020	McCarthy A, Falloon TJ, Sauermilch I, Whittaker JM, Niida K, et al., 'Revisiting the Australian-Antarctic ocean-continent transition zone using petrological and geophysical characterization of exhumed subcontinental mantle', Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems, 21, (7) Article e2020GC009040. ISSN 1525-2027 (2020) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1029/2020GC009040 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 6Web of Science - 6 Co-authors: McCarthy A; Falloon TJ; Sauermilch I; Green DH Tweet
2020	Olierook HKH, Jourdan F, Whittaker JM, Merle RE, Jiang Q, et al., 'Timing and causes of the mid-Cretaceous global plate reorganization event', Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 534 Article 116071. ISSN 0012-821X (2020) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.epsl.2020.116071 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 17Web of Science - 17 Tweet
2020	Seton M, Muller RD, Zahirovic S, Williams S, Wright NM, et al., 'A global data set of present-day oceanic crustal age and seafloor spreading parameters', Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 21, (10) Article e2020GC009214. ISSN 1525-2027 (2020) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1029/2020GC009214 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 64Web of Science - 59 Tweet
2020	Stal T, Reading AM, Halpin JA, Phipps SJ, Whittaker JM, 'The Antarctic crust and upper mantle: a flexible 3D model and software framework for interdisciplinary research', Frontiers in Earth Science, 8 Article 447. ISSN 2296-6463 (2020) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.3389/feart.2020.577502 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 4Web of Science - 4 Co-authors: Stal T; Reading AM; Halpin JA; Phipps SJ Tweet
2020	Wright NM, Seton M, Williams SE, Whittaker JM, Muller RD, 'Sea-level fluctuations driven by changes in global ocean basin volume following supercontinent break-up', Earth Science Reviews, 208 Article 103293. ISSN 0012-8252 (2020) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.earscirev.2020.103293 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 28Web of Science - 25 Tweet
2019	Maritati A, Halpin JA, Whittaker JM, Daczko NR, 'Fingerprinting Proterozoic bedrock in interior Wilkes Land, East Antarctica', Scientific Reports, 9 Article 10192. ISSN 2045-2322 (2019) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-46612-y [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 17Web of Science - 17 Co-authors: Maritati A; Halpin JA Tweet
2019	Sauermilch I, Whittaker JM, Bijl PK, Totterdell JM, Jokat W, 'Tectonic, oceanographic, and climatic controls on the Cretaceous-Cenozoic sedimentary record of the Australian-Antarctic Basin', Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 124, (8) pp. 7699-7724. ISSN 2169-9313 (2019) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1029/2018JB016683 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 19Web of Science - 18 Co-authors: Sauermilch I Tweet
2019	Spain EA, Johnson SC, Hutton B, Whittaker JM, Lucieer V, et al., 'Shallow seafloor gas emissions near Heard and McDonald Islands on the Kerguelen Plateau, southern Indian Ocean', Earth and Space Science, 7, (3) Article e2019EA000695. ISSN 2333-5084 (2019) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1029/2019EA000695 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 3Web of Science - 3 Co-authors: Spain EA; Johnson SC; Lucieer V; Watson SJ; Fox JM; Coffin MF Tweet
2019	Staal T, Reading AM, Halpin JA, Whittaker JM, 'A multivariate approach for mapping lithospheric domain boundaries in East Antarctica', Geophysical Research Letters, 46, (17-18) pp. 10404-10416. ISSN 0094-8276 (2019) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1029/2019GL083453 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 11Web of Science - 9 Co-authors: Staal T; Reading AM; Halpin JA Tweet
2019	Straume EO, Gaina C, Medvedev S, Hochmuth K, Gohl K, et al., 'GlobSed: updated total sediment thickness in the world's oceans', Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems, 20, (4) pp. 1756-1772. ISSN 1525-2027 (2019) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1029/2018GC008115 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 153Web of Science - 144 Tweet
2019	Whittaker JM, 'Plateaus from seafloor spreading', Nature Geoscience, 12 pp. 587-588. ISSN 1752-0894 (2019) [Non Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1038/s41561-019-0416-5 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 2Web of Science - 2 Tweet
2019	Williams SE, Whittaker JM, Halpin JA, Muller RD, 'Australian-Antarctic breakup and seafloor spreading: balancing geological and geophysical constraints', Earth Science Reviews, 188 pp. 41-58. ISSN 0012-8252 (2019) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.earscirev.2018.10.011 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 39Web of Science - 35 Co-authors: Halpin JA Tweet
2018	Daczko NR, Halpin JA, Fitzsimons ICW, Whittaker JM, 'A cryptic Gondwana-forming orogen located in Antarctica', Scientific Reports, 8 Article 8371. ISSN 2045-2322 (2018) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-26530-1 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 41Web of Science - 38 Co-authors: Halpin JA Tweet
2018	Yang T, Moresi L, Zhao D, Sandiford D, Whittaker J, 'Cenozoic lithospheric deformation in Northeast Asia and the rapidly-aging Pacific Plate', Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 492 pp. 1-11. ISSN 0012-821X (2018) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.epsl.2018.03.057 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 47Web of Science - 43 Tweet
2017	Burton-Johnson A, Halpin JA, Whittaker JM, Graham FS, Watson SJ, 'A new heat flux model for the Antarctic Peninsula incorporating spatially variable upper crustal radiogenic heat production', Geophysical Research Letters, 44, (11) pp. 5436-5446. ISSN 0094-8276 (2017) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1002/2017GL073596 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 30Web of Science - 29 Co-authors: Halpin JA; Graham FS; Watson SJ Tweet
2017	Direen NG, Cohen BE, Maas R, Frey FA, Whittaker JM, et al., 'Naturaliste Plateau: constraints on the timing and evolution of the Kerguelen Large Igneous province and its role in Gondwana breakup', Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 64, (7) pp. 851-869. ISSN 0812-0099 (2017) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1080/08120099.2017.1367326 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 27Web of Science - 26 Co-authors: Direen NG; Coffin MF; Meffre S; Halpin JA; Crawford AJ Tweet
2017	Halpin JA, Daczko NR, Kobler ME, Whittaker JM, 'Strike-slip tectonics during the Neoproterozoic-Cambrian assembly of East Gondwana: evidence from a newly discovered microcontinent in the Indian Ocean (Batavia Knoll)', Gondwana Research, 51 pp. 137-148. ISSN 1342-937X (2017) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.gr.2017.08.002 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 15Web of Science - 15 Co-authors: Halpin JA Tweet
2017	Watson SJ, Whittaker JM, Lucieer V, Coffin MF, Lamarche G, 'Erosional and depositional processes on the submarine flanks of Ontong Java and Nukumanu atolls, western equatorial Pacific Ocean', Marine Geology, 392 pp. 122-139. ISSN 0025-3227 (2017) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.margeo.2017.08.006 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 10Web of Science - 10 Co-authors: Watson SJ; Lucieer V; Coffin MF Tweet
2016	Watson SJ, Whittaker JM, Halpin JA, Williams SE, Milan LA, et al., 'Tectonic drivers and the influence of the Kerguelen plume on seafloor spreading during formation of the early Indian Ocean', Gondwana Research, 35 pp. 97-114. ISSN 1342-937X (2016) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.gr.2016.03.009 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 20Web of Science - 19 Co-authors: Watson SJ; Halpin JA Tweet
2016	Whittaker JM, Williams SE, Halpin JA, Wild TJ, Stilwell JD, et al., 'Eastern Indian Ocean microcontinent formation driven by plate motion changes', Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 454 pp. 203-212. ISSN 0012-821X (2016) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.epsl.2016.09.019 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 36Web of Science - 33 Co-authors: Halpin JA Tweet
2015	Gardner RL, Daczko NR, Halpin JA, Whittaker JM, 'Discovery of a microcontinent (Gulden Draak Knoll) offshore Western Australia: implications for East Gondwana reconstructions', Gondwana Research, 28, (3) pp. 1019-1031. ISSN 1342-937X (2015) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.gr.2014.08.013 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 31Web of Science - 28 Co-authors: Halpin JA Tweet
2015	Gibbons AD, Zahirovic S, Muller RD, Whittaker JM, Yatheesh V, 'A tectonic model reconciling evidence for the collisions between India, Eurasia and intra-oceanic arcs of the central-eastern Tethys', Gondwana Research, 28, (2) pp. 451-492. ISSN 1342-937X (2015) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.gr.2015.01.001 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 160Web of Science - 140 Tweet
2015	Matthews KJ, Williams SE, Whittaker JM, Muller RD, Seton M, et al., 'Geologic and kinematic constraints on Late Cretaceous to mid Eocene plate boundaries in the southwest Pacific', Earth Science Reviews, 140 pp. 72-107. ISSN 0012-8252 (2015) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.earscirev.2014.10.008 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 65Web of Science - 62 Tweet
2015	Scher HD, Whittaker JM, Williams SE, Latimer JC, Kordesch WEC, et al., 'Onset of Antarctic Circumpolar Current 30 million years ago as Tasmanian Gateway aligned with westerlies', Nature, 523, (7562) pp. 580-583. ISSN 0028-0836 (2015) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1038/nature14598 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 118Web of Science - 105 Tweet
2015	Seton M, Flament N, Whittaker J, Muller RD, Gurnis M, et al., 'Ridge subduction sparked reorganization of the Pacific plate-mantle system 60-50 million years ago', Geophysical Research Letters, 42, (6) pp. 1732-1740. ISSN 0094-8276 (2015) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1002/2015GL063057 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 145Web of Science - 138 Tweet
2015	Wessel P, Matthews KJ, Muller RD, Mazzoni A, Whittaker JM, et al., 'Semi-automatic fracture zone tracking', Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems, 16, (7) pp. 2462-2472. ISSN 1525-2027 (2015) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1002/2015GC005853 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 63Web of Science - 53 Tweet
2015	Whittaker JM, Afonso JC, Masterton S, Muller RD, Wessel P, et al., 'Long-term interaction between mid-ocean ridges and mantle plumes', Nature Geoscience, 8, (6) pp. 479-484. ISSN 1752-0894 (2015) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1038/NGEO2437 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 76Web of Science - 66 Tweet
2014	Halpin JA, Jensen T, McGoldrick P, Meffre S, Berry RF, et al., 'Authigenic monazite and detrital zircon dating from the Proterozoic Rocky Cape Group, Tasmania: links to the Belt-Purcell Supergroup, North America', Precambrian Research, 250 pp. 50-67. ISSN 0301-9268 (2014) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.precamres.2014.05.025 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 78Web of Science - 76 Co-authors: Halpin JA; McGoldrick P; Meffre S; Berry RF; Thompson J; Goemann K Tweet
2014	Seton M, Whittaker J, Wessel P, Muller RD, DeMets C, et al., 'Community infrastructure and repository for marine magnetic identifications', Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems, 15, (4) pp. 1629-1641. ISSN 1525-2027 (2014) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1002/2013GC005176 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 92Web of Science - 79 Tweet
2013	Gibbons AD, Whittaker JM, Muller RD, 'The breakup of East Gondwana: Assimilating constraints from Cretaceous ocean basins around India into a best-fit tectonic model', Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 118, (3) pp. 808-822. ISSN 2169-9313 (2013) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1002/jgrb.50079 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 190Web of Science - 170 Tweet
2013	Hosseinpour M, Muller RD, Williams SE, Whittaker J, 'Full-fit reconstruction of the Labrador Sea and Baffin Bay', Solid Earth, 4 pp. 461-479. ISSN 1869-9510 (2013) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.5194/se-4-461-2013 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 67Web of Science - 57 Tweet
2013	Whittaker J, Goncharov A, Williams SE, Muller RD, Leitchenkov G, 'Global sediment thickness data set updated for the Australian-Antarctic Southern Ocean', Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems, 14, (8) pp. 3297-3305. ISSN 1525-2027 (2013) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1002/ggge.20181 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 156Web of Science - 146 Tweet
2013	Whittaker JM, Williams SE, Muller RD, 'Revised tectonic evolution of the Eastern Indian Ocean', Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems, 14, (6) pp. 1891-1909. ISSN 1525-2027 (2013) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1002/ggge.20120 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 83Web of Science - 81 Tweet
2013	Williams SE, Whittaker J, Granot R, Muller DR, 'Early India-Australia spreading history revealed by newly detected Mesozoic magnetic anomalies in the Perth Abyssal Plain', Journal of Geophysical Research - Solid Earth, 118, (7) pp. 3275-3284. ISSN 2169-9313 (2013) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1002/jgrb.50239 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 51Web of Science - 41 Tweet
2012	Gibbons AD, Barckhausen U, van den Bogaard P, Werner R, Whittaker J, et al., 'Constraining the Jurassic extent of Greater India: Tectonic evolution of the West Australian margin', Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems, 13, (5) Article Q05W13. ISSN 1525-2027 (2012) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1029/2011GC003919 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 147Web of Science - 139 Tweet
2012	Mazur S, Green C, Stewart MG, Whittaker J, Williams S, et al., 'Displacement along the Red River Fault constrained by extension estimates and plate reconstructions', Tectonics, 31 Article TC5008. ISSN 0278-7407 (2012) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1029/2012TC003174 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 48Web of Science - 41 Tweet
2012	Williams SE, Muller RD, Landgrebe TCW, Whittaker J, 'An open-source software environment for visualizing and refining plate tectonic reconstructions using high-resolution geological and geophysical data sets', GSA Today, 22, (4-5) pp. 4-9. ISSN 1052-5173 (2012) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1130/GSATG139A.1 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 78 Tweet
2012	Zahirovic S, Muller RD, Seton M, Flament N, Gurnis M, et al., 'Insights on the kinematics of the India-Eurasia collision from global geodynamic models', Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems, 13, (4) Article Q04W11. ISSN 1525-2027 (2012) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1029/2011GC003883 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 73Web of Science - 61 Tweet
2011	Matthews KJ, Muller RD, Wessel P, Whittaker J, 'The tectonic fabric of the ocean basins', Journal of Geophysical Research-Space Physics, 116, (B12) Article B12109. ISSN 0148-0227 (2011) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1029/2011JB008413 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 128Web of Science - 114 Tweet
2011	Williams SE, Whittaker J, Muller RD, 'Full‐fit, palinspastic reconstruction of the conjugate Australian‐Antarctic margins', Tectonics, 30, (6) Article TC6012. ISSN 0278-7407 (2011) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1029/2011TC002912 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 92Web of Science - 84 Tweet
2010	Whittaker J, Muller RD, Gurnis M, 'Development of the Australian‐Antarctic depth anomaly', Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems, 11, (11) pp. Q11006. ISSN 1525-2027 (2010) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1029/2010GC003276 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 21Web of Science - 20 Tweet
2009	Whittaker J, 'The hydrangeas of plate tectonics', Nature Geoscience, 2, (4) pp. 246-247. ISSN 1752-0894 (2009) [Non Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1038/ngeo492 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 1Web of Science - 1 Tweet
2008	Fielding CR, Whittaker J, Henrys SA, Wilson TJ, Naish TR, 'Seismic facies and stratigraphy of the Cenozoic succession in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica: Implications for tectonic, climatic and glacial history', Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology: An International Journal for The Geo-Sciences, 260 pp. 8-29. ISSN 0031-0182 (2008) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.palaeo.2007.08.016 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 87Web of Science - 73 Tweet
2008	Whittaker J, Muller RD, Leitchenkov G, Stagg H, Sdrolias M, et al., 'Response to Comment on 'Major Australian-Antarctic Plate Reorganization at Hawaiian-Emperor Bend Time'', Science, 321 pp. 490d. ISSN 0036-8075 (2008) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1126/science.1157501 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 6Web of Science - 7 Tweet
2008	Whittaker J, Muller RD, Roest WR, Wessel P, Smith WHF, 'How supercontinents and superoceans affect seafloor roughness', Nature, 456, (18/25 December 2008) pp. 938-942. ISSN 0028-0836 (2008) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1038/nature07573 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 26Web of Science - 25 Tweet
2007	Whittaker J, Muller RD, Leitchenkov G, Stagg H, Sdrolias M, et al., 'Major Australian-Antarctic Plate Reorganization at Hawaiian-Emperor Bend Time', Science, 318 pp. 83-86. ISSN 0036-8075 (2007) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1126/science.1143769 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 225Web of Science - 214 Tweet
2007	Whittaker J, Muller RD, Sdrolias M, Heine C, 'Sunda-Java trench kinematics, slab window formation and overriding plate deformation since the Cretaceous', Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 255 pp. 445-457. ISSN 0012-821X (2007) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.epsl.2006.12.031 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 69Web of Science - 58 Tweet
2006	Whittaker J, Muller RD, 'Seismic stratigraphy of the Adare Trough area, Antarctica', Marine Geology: International Journal of Marine Geology, Geochemistry and Geophysics, 230 pp. 179-197. ISSN 0025-3227 (2006) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.margeo.2006.05.002 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 8Web of Science - 6 Tweet

Chapter in Book

(2 outputs)

Year	Citation	Altmetrics
2020	Watson SJ, Lucieer V, Whittaker J, Fox JM, Hill N, et al., 'Submarine sedimentary bedforms and benthos surrounding the Heard and McDonald Islands World Heritage Site', Seafloor Geomorphology as Benthic Habitat, Elsevier Science, P Harris and E Baker (ed), Sydney, pp. 705-720. ISBN 9780128149607 (2020) [Research Book Chapter] [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Watson SJ; Lucieer V; Fox JM; Hill N; Coffin MF Tweet
2015	Coffin MF, Whittaker JM, 'Intraplate Magmatism', Encyclopedia of Marine Geosciences, Springer Netherlands, J Harff, M Meschede, S Petersen, J Tiede (ed), Netherlands, pp. 1-12. ISBN 9789400762374 (2015) [Other Book Chapter] DOI: 10.1007/978-94-007-6644-0_19-1 [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Coffin MF Tweet

Year

Citation

Altmetrics

2020

Watson SJ, Lucieer V, Whittaker J, Fox JM, Hill N, et al., 'Submarine sedimentary bedforms and benthos surrounding the Heard and McDonald Islands World Heritage Site', Seafloor Geomorphology as Benthic Habitat, Elsevier Science, P Harris and E Baker (ed), Sydney, pp. 705-720. ISBN 9780128149607 (2020) [Research Book Chapter]

[eCite] [Details]

Co-authors: Watson SJ; Lucieer V; Fox JM; Hill N; Coffin MF

2015

Coffin MF, Whittaker JM, 'Intraplate Magmatism', Encyclopedia of Marine Geosciences, Springer Netherlands, J Harff, M Meschede, S Petersen, J Tiede (ed), Netherlands, pp. 1-12. ISBN 9789400762374 (2015) [Other Book Chapter]

DOI: 10.1007/978-94-007-6644-0_19-1 [eCite] [Details]

Co-authors: Coffin MF

Conference Publication

(50 outputs)

Year	Citation	Altmetrics
2021	Stal T, Reading AM, Cracknell MJ, Halpin JA, Latto RB, et al., 'Data-driven tectonic regionalization of Antarctica: appreciate the similarity', Australian Earth Sciences Convention 2021 - 'Core to Cosmos', 9-12 February 2021, Virtual Conference, Online (Australia) (2021) [Conference Extract] [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Stal T; Reading AM; Cracknell MJ; Halpin JA; Latto RB; Morse PE; Turner RJ Tweet
2020	Staal T, Reading AM, Cracknell MJ, Fox J, Halpin JA, et al., '345 - The Wilkes Land sector including the Aurora Basin, and its most probable subglacial geology', Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) Open Science Conference 2020: Antarctic - Global Connections, 3-7 August 2020, Online (2020) [Conference Extract] [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Staal T; Reading AM; Cracknell MJ; Fox J; Halpin JA; Maritati A Tweet
2020	Staal T, Reading AM, Fox J, Halpin JA, Kelly ID, et al., 'Multivariate geothermal heat flow models of Antarctica, towards Aq2', American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting 2020, 7-11 December, Virtual Conference, Online (USA) (2020) [Conference Extract] [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Staal T; Reading AM; Fox J; Halpin JA; Kelly ID; Phipps SJ; Turner RJ
2020	Staal T, Reading AM, Halpin J, Whittaker J, '344 - Towards a reconciled heat flow map for Antarctica: Aq1', Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) Open Science Conference 2020: Antarctic - Global Connections, 3-7 August 2020, Online (2020) [Conference Extract] [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Staal T; Reading AM; Halpin J
2019	Maritati A, Halpin J, Danisik M, Whittaker J, Aitken A, 'Permian-Triassic rifting shaped subglacial landscape of western Wilkes Land, East Antarctica', Abstracts from the XIII International Symposium on Antarctic Earth Sciences, 22-26 July 2019, Incheon, Republic of Korea, pp. A195. (2019) [Conference Extract] [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Maritati A; Halpin J Tweet
2019	Staal T, Halpin J, Whittaker J, 'Poster JG01 p-415 - Introducing agrid': a multidimensional model and framework for investigating the Antarctic crust and lithosphere, and interdisciplinary research', 27th International Union of Goedesy and Geophysics (IUGG) General Assembly, 8-18 July 2019, Montreal, Canada (2019) [Conference Extract] [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Staal T; Halpin J Tweet
2019	Staal T, Reading A, Halpin J, Whittaker J, 'Linking Antarctic geological observations and geophysical data in a probabilistic space', Abstracts from the 8th International Symposium on Antarctic Earth Sciences, 22-26 July 2019, Incheon, Republic of Korea, pp. A082. (2019) [Conference Extract] [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Staal T; Reading A; Halpin J Tweet
2018	Burton-Johnson A, Halpin J, Whittaker J, McCormack F, Watson S, 'A new heat flux model incorporating variable crustal radiogenic heat production', POLAR2018 Open Science Conference Abstract Proceedings, 19-23 June 2018, Davos, Switzerland, pp. 2478. (2018) [Conference Extract] [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Halpin J; McCormack F; Watson S Tweet
2018	Burton-Johnson A, Halpin JA, Whittaker J, Graham F, Watson S, 'A new heat flux model for the Antarctic Peninsula incorporating variable crustal radiogenic heat production', TACtical Workshop: Taking the Temperature of the Antarctic Continent Abstract book, 21-23 March, Hobart, Tasmania (2018) [Conference Extract] [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Halpin JA; Graham F; Watson S Tweet
2018	Halpin J, Burton-Johnson A, Watson S, Whittaker J, Maritati A, et al., 'The peaks and patterns of Antarctic crustal heat production', Australian Geoscience Council Convention Abstracts, 14-18 October 2018, Adelaide, South Australia, pp. 476. (2018) [Conference Extract] [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Halpin J; Watson S; Maritati A; Staal T; Reading A Tweet
2018	Halpin J, Burton-Johnson A, Watson S, Whittaker J, Staal T, et al., 'Warm, warmer, hot! Antarctic crustal radiogenic heat production', TACtical Workshop Abstracts, 21-23 March 2018, Hobart, Tasmania (2018) [Conference Extract] [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Halpin J; Watson S; Staal T; Reading A; Maritati A Tweet
2018	Halpin J, Daczko N, Fitzsimons I, Whittaker J, Mulder J, 'Anatomy of the Kuunga Orogen in East Antarctica', Australian Geoscience Council Convention Abstracts, 14-18 October 2018, Adelaide, South Australia, pp. 473. (2018) [Conference Extract] [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Halpin J Tweet
2018	Maritati A, Halpin J, Whittaker J, 'New geological insights fingerprint high heat producing crust in the remote interior of Wilkes Land, East Antarctica', TACtical Workshop Abstracts, 21-23 March 2018, Hobart, Tasmania (2018) [Conference Extract] [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Maritati A; Halpin J Tweet
2018	Maritati A, Halpin J, Whittaker J, Daczko N, 'New insights into the subglacial geology of the remote interior of Western Wilkes Land, East Antarctica', Australian Geoscience Council Convention Abstracts, 14-18 October 2018, Adelaide, South Australia, pp. 491. (2018) [Conference Extract] [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Maritati A; Halpin J Tweet
2018	Maritati A, Whittaker J, Halpin J, Wainman C, Danisik M, et al., 'Sediment provenance and tectonic evolution of the Eastern Mentelle Basin: insights into the early rifting history of East Gondwana', Australian Geoscience Council Convention Abstracts, 14-18 October 2018, Adelaide, South Australia, pp. 494. (2018) [Conference Extract] [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Maritati A; Halpin J Tweet
2018	Reading A, Staal T, Halpin J, Whittaker J, 'Combining interpolated and locally observed contributions to heat flow models', TACtical Workshop Abstracts, 21-23 March 2018, Hobart, Tasmania (2018) [Conference Extract] [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Reading A; Staal T; Halpin J Tweet
2018	Reading A, Staal T, Halpin J, Whittaker J, 'Combining upper crust and lithosphere contributions to heat flow models', POLAR2018 Open Science Conference Abstract Proceedings, 19-23 June 2018, Davos, Switzerland, pp. 2479. (2018) [Conference Extract] [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Reading A; Staal T; Halpin J Tweet
2018	Reading AM, King M, Jong L, Warjri D, Halpin J, et al., 'Solid Earth-cryosphere interaction with a focus on East Antarctica', POLAR2018 Open Science Conference Abstract Proceedings, 19-23 June 2018, Davos, Switzerland, pp. 1608. (2018) [Conference Extract] [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Reading AM; King M; Jong L; Warjri D; Halpin J; Sauermilch I; Staal T; Maritati A; Roberts J; Phipps S; Chase Z; Noble T; Pesjak L; Tooze S Tweet
2018	Spain EA, Johnason S, Hutton B, Whittaker J, Lucieer V, et al., 'Shallow seafloor gas emissions near Heard and McDonald Islands on the Kerguelen Plateau, Southern Indian Ocean', Proceedings from the GeoHab: Marine Geological and Biological Habitat Mapping, 7-11 May 2018, Santa Barbara, USA, pp. 123. (2018) [Conference Extract] [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Spain EA; Lucieer V; Watson S; Fox J; Coffin MF
2018	Staal T, Reading A, Halpin J, Whittaker J, 'Towards a multi-domain lithospheric model of East Antarctica', TACtical Workshop Abstracts, 21-23 March 2018, Hobart, Tasmania (2018) [Conference Extract] [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Staal T; Reading A; Halpin J Tweet
2018	Staal T, Reading AM, Halpin J, Whittaker J, 'A multi-domain lithospheric model of East Antarctica', POLAR2018 Open Science Conference Abstract Proceedings, 19-23 June 2018, Davos, Switzerland, pp. 1938. (2018) [Conference Extract] [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Staal T; Reading AM; Halpin J Tweet
2017	Burton-Johnson A, Halpin J, Whittaker J, Watson S, 'The forgotten component of sub-glacial heat flow: upper crustal heat production and resultant total heat flux on the Antarctic Peninsula', Geophysical Research Abstracts, 23-28 April, Vienna, Austria, pp. 14314. ISSN 1607-7962 (2017) [Conference Extract] [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Halpin J; Watson S
2017	Halpin J, Whittaker J, Daczko N, Fitzsimons I, Reading A, et al., 'Uncovering terra incognita: new insights into the evolution of Antarctica and constraints for ice sheet models', Biennial Meeting of the Specialist Group in Tectonics and Structural Geology, 08-12 November 2017, Denmark, WA, pp. 104. (2017) [Keynote Presentation] [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Halpin J; Reading A; Maritati A; Staal T; Watson S; Mulder J; Noble T; Chase Z; Tooze S; Sauermilch I
2017	Halpin JA, Daczko NR, Whittaker JM, Fitzsimmons ICW, 'Australo-Antarctica in Gondwana: a view from the edge', Programs and Abstracts, Rodinia 2017 Conference, 11-14 June 2017, Townsville, Australia, pp. 7-8. (2017) [Conference Extract] [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Halpin JA Tweet
2017	Mundana R, Johnson SC, Whittaker JM, Carey R, Sauermilch I, et al., 'Rocks from the Cascade Seamount: an archive of the unzipping of Gondwana and the initiation of the ACC?', AGU Chapman Conference 2017 Abstracts, 29 January-03 February, Hobart, Tasmania (2017) [Non Refereed Conference Paper] [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Mundana R; Johnson SC; Carey R; Sauermilch I; Fox JM
2017	Watson S, Fox JM, Post A, Whittaker J, Lucieer VL, et al., 'Submarine glacial landforms and interactions with volcanism around Sub-Antarctic Heard and McDonald Islands', AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts, 11-15 December 2017, New Orleans, USA (2017) [Conference Extract] [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Watson S; Fox JM; Lucieer VL; Carey RJ; Coffin MF Tweet
2017	Whittaker J, Williams S, Halpin J, Daczko N, 'East Gondwana breakup and microcontinent formation', Programs and Abstracts, Rodinia 2017 Conference, 11-14 June 2017, Townsville, Australia, pp. 25-26. (2017) [Conference Extract] [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Halpin J Tweet
2016	Reading A, Halpin J, Whittaker J, Cracknell M, Gal M, et al., 'An interdisciplinary approach to constructing models of the lithosphere across the Australia-Antarctica conjugate margin', Abstracts from the Australian Earth Sciences Convention (AESC 2016), 26-30 June 2016, Adelaide, South Australia, pp. 371. (2016) [Conference Extract] [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Reading A; Halpin J; Cracknell M; Gal M; Morse P
2016	Watson SJ, Coffin MF, Whittaker JM, Lucieer V, Fox JM, et al., 'Submarine geology and geomorphology of active Sub-Antarctic volcanoes: Heard and McDonald Islands', American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting abstracts, 12-16 December 2016, San Francicso, USA, pp. V43F-08. (2016) [Plenary Presentation] [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Watson SJ; Coffin MF; Lucieer V; Fox JM; Carey R; Bowie AR; Chase Z
2016	Watson SJ, Lucieer V, Coffin MF, Whittaker JM, 'The Ontong Java Plateau uncovered: evidence for mass wasting on the flanks of Ontong Java and Nukumanu atolls', Australian Earth Science Convention abstracts, 26-30 June, Adelaide (2016) [Conference Extract] [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Watson SJ; Lucieer V; Coffin MF
2015	Coffin M, Adams N, Whittaker J, Lucieer V, Heckman M, et al., 'The world's largest submarine canyon Kroenke Canyon in the Western Equatorial Pacific', American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting Program, 14-18 December, San Francisco, USA, pp. OS21A-1953. (2015) [Conference Extract] [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Coffin M; Lucieer V
2015	Daczko NR, Halpin JA, Whittaker JM, Fitzsimons ICW, 'The Neoproterozoic East Gondwana suture: reconciling geological and geophysical evidence', Geological Society of Australia Abstract, November 2015, Caloundra, Queensland, pp. abstract 33. ISSN 0729-011X (2015) [Conference Extract] [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Halpin JA
2015	Halpin JA, Daczko NR, Whittaker JM, Williams SE, Gardner RL, et al., 'Micro-continents offshore Western Australia: insights into the make-up and break-up of East Gondwana', XII International Symposium on Antarctic Earth Science (ISAES 2015) Conference Program, 13-17 July, Goa, India (2015) [Conference Extract] [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Halpin JA; Quilty PG
2015	Halpin JA, Daczko NR, Whittaker JM, Williams SE, Gardner RL, et al., 'Microcontinents offshore Western Australia: insights into the make-up and break-up of East Gondwana', Geological Society of Australia Abstracts, November 2015, Caloundra, Queensland, pp. abstract 34. ISSN 0729-011X (2015) [Conference Extract] [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Halpin JA; Quilty PG
2015	Watson SJ, Whittaker JM, Halpin JA, Williams S, Milan LA, et al., 'Unraveling the unusual morphology of the Cretaceous Dirck Hartog extinct mid-ocean ridge', AGU 2015 Fall Meeting Programme, 14-18 December, San Francisco, USA, pp. V21A-3007. (2015) [Conference Extract] [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Watson SJ; Halpin JA
2014	Halpin JA, Jensen T, McGoldrick P, Meffre S, Berry RF, et al., 'Age constraints from the Rocky Cape Group: putting Tasmania on the Mesoproterozoic map', Abstracts of the 22nd Australian Earth Sciences Convention 2014, 7-10 July 2014, Newcastle, Australia, pp. 207-208. ISSN 0729-011X (2014) [Conference Extract] [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Halpin JA; McGoldrick P; Meffre S; Berry RF; Thompson J; Goemann K
2014	Whittaker J, Williams S, Halpin J, Daczko N, Gardner R, 'Micro-continents offshore Western Australia: implications for East Gondwana reconstructions', European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2014, 27 April - 2 May, Vienna, Austria, pp. 12573. (2014) [Keynote Presentation] [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Halpin J
2013	Hall LS, Gibbons AD, Bernardel G, Whittaker J, Nicholson C, et al., 'Structural Architecture of Australia's Southwest Continental Margin and Implications for Early Cretaceous Basin Evolution', The Sedimentary Basins of Western Australia IV: Proceedings of the Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia Symposium, 18-21 August 2013, Perth, WA, pp. 2-20. (2013) [Refereed Conference Paper] [eCite] [Details] Tweet
2013	Whittaker J, Halpin JA, Williams SE, Hall LS, Gardner R, et al., 'Tectonic Evolution and Continental Fragmentation of the Southern West Australian Margin', The Sedimentary Basins of Western Australia IV: Proceedings of the Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia Symposium, 18-21 August 2013, Perth, WA, pp. 1-18. (2013) [Refereed Conference Paper] [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Halpin JA Tweet
2013	Williams SE, Whittaker J, Muller RD, 'Newly-recognised Continental Fragments Rifted from the West Australian Margin', The Sedimentary Basins of Western Australia IV: Proceedings of the Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia Symposium, 18-21 August 2013, Perth, WA, pp. 1-9. (2013) [Refereed Conference Paper] [eCite] [Details] Tweet
2012	Lane H, Muller RD, Totterdell JM, Whittaker J, 'Developing a consistent sequence stratigraphy for the Wilkes Land and Great Australian Bight margins', Eastern Australasian Basins Symposium IV, 10-14 September 2012, Brisbane, QLD, pp. 1-13. (2012) [Refereed Conference Paper] [eCite] [Details] Tweet
2012	Seton M, Flament N, Whittaker J, Muller D, Bower d, et al., 'A forward geodynamic modelling approach to understand the history of subduction along the east Asian margin', 6th eResearch Australasia Conference 2012, 28 October - 1 November 2012, Sydney, Australia, pp. 1-2. (2012) [Conference Extract] [eCite] [Details]
2012	Whittaker J, Goncharov A, Williams SE, Muller RD, 'Crustal velocity and sediment thickness asymmetries along and between the conjugate Australian-Antarctic margins', Eastern Australasian Basins Symposium IV, 10-14 September 2012, Brisbane, QLD, pp. 1-6. (2012) [Refereed Conference Paper] [eCite] [Details] Tweet
2012	Williams SE, Whittaker J, Muller RD, 'Full-fit reconstructions of the southern Australian margin and Antarctica - implications for correlating geology between Australia and Antarctica', Proceedings of the Eastern Australasian Basins Symposium IV, 10-14 September 2012, Brisbane, QLD, pp. 1-8. (2012) [Refereed Conference Paper] [eCite] [Details] Tweet
2010	Fabian T, Whittaker J, Muller RD, 'Mapping Tertiary mid-ocean ridge subduction and slab window formation beneath Sundaland using seismic tomography', Preview Journal, 22-26 August 2010, Sydney, Australia, pp. 1-4. ISSN 0956-540X (2010) [Non Refereed Conference Paper] [eCite] [Details]
2010	Gibbons A, Whittaker J, Muller RD, 'Revised plate tectonic history of the west Australian margin reveals how the Gascoyne Terrane docked at West Burma', Proceedings of the 21st Australian Society of Exploration Geophysics Conference and Exhibition, 30 August 2010, Sydney, pp. 1-4. (2010) [Non Refereed Conference Paper] [eCite] [Details]
2010	Whittaker J, Williams S, Kusznir N, Muller D, 'Restoring the continent-ocean boundary: constraints from lithospheric stretching grids and tectonic reconstructions', ASEG 2010 Proceedings, 22 August 2010, Sydney, Australia, pp. 1-4. (2010) [Non Refereed Conference Paper] [eCite] [Details]
2010	Williams S, Whittaker J, Mazur S, 'What can potential field data really tell us about Continent-Ocean transitions?', Conference Proceedings, 22-26 August 2010, Sydney, Australia, pp. 1-5. ISSN 1836-084X (2010) [Non Refereed Conference Paper] [eCite] [Details]
2008	Whittaker J, Muller RD, Goncharov A, 'Australian-Antarctic rifting', PESA Eastern Australasian Basins Symposium III, 14-17 September 2008, Sydney, Australia, pp. 271-274. (2008) [Refereed Conference Paper] [eCite] [Details] Tweet
2007	Henrys S, Wilson T, Whittaker J, Fielding C, Hall J, et al., 'Tectonic history of mid-Miocene to present southern Victoria Land Basin, inferred from seismic stratigraphy in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica', US Geological Survey, 26/08/2007-01/09/2007, Santa Barbara, California, United States, pp. 1-4. ISSN 0196-1497 (2007) [Refereed Conference Paper] DOI: 10.3133/of2007-1047.srp049 [eCite] [Details] Tweet

Contract Report, Consultant's Report

(1 outputs)

Year	Citation	Altmetrics
2015	Coffin MF, Adams N, Heckman M, Ketter T, Lucieer VL, et al., 'Deciphering Ontong Java Atoll, Nukumanu Atoll, and Kroenke Canyon, Western Equatorial Pacific final project report for RV Falkor FK141015 15 October - 3 November 2014', Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, FK141015 (2015) [Contract Report] [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Coffin MF; Lucieer VL

Year

Citation

Altmetrics

2015

Coffin MF, Adams N, Heckman M, Ketter T, Lucieer VL, et al., 'Deciphering Ontong Java Atoll, Nukumanu Atoll, and Kroenke Canyon, Western Equatorial Pacific final project report for RV Falkor FK141015 15 October - 3 November 2014', Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, FK141015 (2015) [Contract Report]

[eCite] [Details]

Co-authors: Coffin MF; Lucieer VL

Other Public Output

(4 outputs)

Year	Citation	Altmetrics
2021	Staal T, Reading AM, Halpin JA, Whittaker JM, 'Eos: Editors' Highlights', American Geophysical Union, United States (2021) [Award] [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Staal T; Reading AM; Halpin JA Tweet
2014	Whittaker J, Williams S, 'What is it really like under the Indian Ocean', The Conversation, The Conversation Trust, Australia, 17 June (2014) [Magazine Article] [eCite] [Details] Tweet
2013	Whittaker J, 'How Australia and India broke up - 100 million years ago', L'Oreal For Women in Science Fellowship, Australia (2013) [Award] [eCite] [Details]
2012	Whittaker J, 'Award in geophysics', The Edgeworth David Medal (2012) [Award] [eCite] [Details]

Grants & Funding

Jo has been awarded significant funding and research support, including a 2015 ARC Discovery Project and a 2014 ARC DECRA. Additionally, she has been highly successful in obtaining shiptime on large national and international scientific research vessels through competitive peer review processes.

2012-2014: Chief investigator on three separate grants (from CSIRO and Schmidt Oceanographic Institute) for a total of 16 weeks' ship time (worth almost $5.5 million)
2011: Lead chief investigator on grant for three weeks' ship time (worth almost $1 million) on Australia's Marine National Facility research vessel Southern Surveyor, funded by CSIRO and Statoil

Funding Summary

Number of grants

Total funding

$33,137,868

Projects

Australia's Southern Tectonic Margin: Understanding how Australia and Antarctica broke-up (2024)$0

Description: The theory of plate tectonics just celebrated its 50th anniversary. However, exactly how two continents split apart to form a new ocean basin remains poorly understood, particularly when there is little volcanism associated with the process. The breakup between Southern Australia and Antarctica is a key example of this. Seafloor rocks from ridges offshore Southern Australia are required to understand how continental rifting and extreme continental crust thinning progressed to the formation of new ocean crust.
Funding: CSIRO-Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation ($0)
Scheme: Grant-Marine National Facility
Administered By: University of Tasmania
Research Team: Whittaker J; Halpin JA; Aitken A; McCarthy A; Sauermilch I
Year: 2024

Australian Membership of the International Ocean Discovery Program (2023 - 2024)$4,378,142

Description: This proposal is for a 2 year membership of the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP), the world's largest collaborative research program in Earth and ocean sciences. IODP membership delivers access to globalranging research infrastructure that provides unique enabling capabilities to explore, sample and monitor geological and biological activity deep beneath the seafloor. The IODP facilitates research into past global environmental change on multiple time scales, the deep biosphere, plate tectonics, formation and distribution of resources, and generation of hazards. This research addresses multiple national science and research priorities, and underpins futuresocietal and economic prosperity.
Funding: Australian Research Council ($4,378,142)
Scheme: Grant-Linkage Infrastructure
Administered By: Australian National University
Research Team: Rohling EJ; Whittaker J
Period: 2023 - 2024
Grant Reference: LE230100044

South Tasman Rise subsidence and its role in the onset of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (2023)$13,800

Description: This project addresses the Cenozoic evolution of the Tasmanian Gateway, which formed during the tectonic separation of Australia and Antarctica. The opening of the Tasman Gateway has been implicated in the initiation of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, and possibly played a role in glaciation of Antarctica 34 million years ago. This project will support an Honours/Masters project (supervised by Jo and Taryn) to constrain the timing of Tasman Gateway subsidence and bottom current flow directions and strengths through the Tasman Gateway, via authigenic Rare Earth Element (REE), Neodymium (Nd) and Strontium (Sr) isotopic composition analysis, on Eocene and early Oligocene samples taken from legacy drill sites ODP 1170 & 1171 on the South Tasman Rise.
Funding: Australian and New Zealand International Ocean Drilling Program Consortium ($13,800)
Scheme: Grant
Administered By: University of Tasmania
Research Team: Whittaker J; Noble T
Year: 2023

Marine Heat Flow measuring system (2022)$48,200

Description: Our proposed Marine Heat Flow measuring system comprises autonomous outrigger thermal probes that can be mounted on a solid shaft or core barrel. Deployment capability is available on Australia's Marine National Facility vessel, RV Investigator, and will be available on the Australian-Antarctic Division's new icebreaker, RV Nuyina. A marine temperature logger is mounted on a gravity/piston corer, deployed from a ship, which allows for measurement of temperature gradients in seafloor sediment. Thermal conductivity will be determined with shipboard needle-probe thermal conductivity measurements on co-located core material. From the temperature gradient and thermal conductivity, the geothermal heat flow can be inferred.
Funding: AuScope Ltd ($48,200)
Scheme: Opportunity Fund
Administered By: University of Tasmania
Research Team: Whittaker J; Halpin JA
Year: 2022

Gigantic submarine landslide offshore western Tasmania: risk mitigation for shelf-derived tsunami in Australia (2021)$0

Description: This project involved a research voyage to conduct seismic reflection, marine geophysics and shallow coring to quantify thestructure, volume, age and tsunamigenic potential of a gigantic slide off the western Tasmanian shelf. This grant application to the Marine NationalFacility is for ship time only.
Funding: CSIRO-Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation ($0)
Scheme: Grant-Marine National Facility
Administered By: University of Tasmania
Research Team: Jutzeler M; Lucieer VL; Whittaker J; Kain C; Nichols S; Talling P; Hubble T
Year: 2021

Australian Membership of the International Ocean Discovery Program (2021 - 2022)$3,000,000

Description: The ANZIC Governing Council (4 Feb), encouraged by positive dialogues with the ARC, decided to request transitional support through the current ARC LIEF round to ensure we are not left with a 6 -18 month gap in funding for our participation in IODP.
Funding: Australian Research Council ($3,000,000)
Scheme: Grant-Linkage Infrastructure
Administered By: Australian National University
Research Team: Rohling EJ; Whittaker J
Period: 2021 - 2022
Grant Reference: LE210100028

The Australian Southern Margin: Understanding how Australia and Antarctica broke-up (2021)$0

Description: Our project addresses the timing and mechanisms driving lithospheric thinning during Australian-Antarctic breakup. The nature of the crust offshore Southern Australia has been heavily debated for decades. The transition zone of this magma poor passive has been interpreted as highly extended continental crust, exhumed and likely serpentinized subcontinental mantle, or ultra-slowly formed ocean crust. Offshore the Central Bight region a series of exposed basement ridges means we can dredge basement samples to address this ongoing controversy.Our specific aims are to:1. Dredge basement ridges formed at around magnetic chron 31 (Priority site 12, alternative sites 1, 2, 10 and11).Most authors interpret the crust here to be slowly formed oceanic material, with possible seamounts.2. Dredge basement ridges formed between magnetic chron 33 and 34 (79-83 Myrs ago, Priority sites 3 and4).The crust formed during this time period is the most controversial, with continental, exhumed mantle andoceanic crust all proposed.3. Dredge basement ridges lying inboard of magnetic chron 34 (Priority site 6, alternative sites 5, 7-9). This crustistypically interpreted as continental, although more mafic material has been dredged in an equivalentregionfurther to the west.
Funding: CSIRO-Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation ($0)
Scheme: Grant-Marine National Facility
Administered By: University of Tasmania
Research Team: Whittaker J; Halpin JA; Aitken A; McCarthy A; Nirrengarten M
Year: 2021

Addressing information gaps in Australias Unresolved Extended Continental Shelf. Williams Ridge, Kerguelen Plateau (2020 - 2023)$420,245

Description: This funding is for a PhD stipend for a student to undertake the project Development of William's Ridge, Kerguelen Plateau: tectonics, hotspot magmatism, microcontinents, and Australia's Extended Continental Shelf.
Funding: Geoscience Australia ($420,245)
Scheme: Contract Research
Administered By: University of Tasmania
Research Team: Whittaker J; Coffin MF; Alcock M; Halpin JA
Period: 2020 - 2023

Development of Williams Ridge, Kerguelen Plateau: tectonics, hotspot magmatism, microcontinents, and Australias Extended Continental Shelf (2020)$0

Description: The Indian Ocean contains numerous enigmatic submarine ridges and plateaus. We will investigate how William's Ridge, extending southeast of the Kerguelen Plateau, and the once-abutting Broken Ridge formed and developed over the past 100 million years. Acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of the new geophysical data and first-ever geological samples from William's Ridge and the conjugate portion of Broken Ridge will reveal their crustal nature in the context of voluminous magmatism associated with mantle hotspot activity and changing tectonic plate configurations. This, in turn, will shed light on underlying geodynamic processes and will test and improve current plate kinematic models.
Funding: CSIRO-Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation ($0)
Scheme: Grant-Marine National Facility
Administered By: University of Tasmania
Research Team: Coffin MF; Daczko N; Borissova I; Halpin JA; Hoernle K; Picard K; Storey M; Whittaker J
Year: 2020

Seamounts in the Tasman Sea and Southwest Pacific: Deep seated Balleny plume vs. Pacific Superswell (2020 - 2022)$81,050

Description: The overarching aim of this research is to further understand the fundamental processes driving plate tectonic motions, particularly between Australia and Antarctica. The Balleny Plume has been implicated in causing/aiding the opening of the Tasman Sea and southwestern Pacific from about 80 Ma and continental breakup between Cape Adare and Tasmania 30-50 Myr ago. However, an alternative hypothesis proposes that volcanism in this region is instead related to a superswell. We are in a position to test these alternative hypotheses by utilizing existing Tasman/Balleny seamount samples in the existing U. Tasmania rock store, and new samples collected during the RV Investigator shiptime IN2018-18 in December 2018-January 2019. We will collect new Ar-Ar dates of key samples coupled with Sr, Nb, Pb isotopes.
Funding: Department of Environment and Energy (Cwth) ($81,050)
Scheme: Grant-Australian Antarctic Science
Administered By: University of Tasmania
Research Team: Carey RJ; Whittaker J; Duncan R; Seton M
Period: 2020 - 2022

Sedimentation at its extreme: how powerful are submarine caldera-forming eruptions (Kermadec arc)? (2020)$0

Description: This expedition will collect new information on powerful underwater volcanic eruptions. The voyage will target three representative submarine caldera volcanoes (Macauley, Havre and Healy) in the Kermadec arc, north of New Zealand. We will investigate the internal structure of these volcanoes to infer how they erupted, and where the eruption products were dispersed in the ocean. This research has strong with ties with the Australian mining industry by improving strategies for exploration in ancient volcanic terrains, and will also provide novel data on hazards linked to submarine volcanic eruptions, such as tsunamis and breakage of underwater communication cables.
Funding: CSIRO-Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation ($0)
Scheme: Grant-Marine National Facility
Administered By: University of Tasmania
Research Team: Jutzeler M; Carey RJ; Whittaker J; Lamarche G; Soule A; Manga M; Wysoczanski R; Kutterolf S
Year: 2020

The Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science (2020 - 2025)$22,302,208

Description: The Centre will revolutionise predictions of the future of East Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. Changes in the Antarctic will be profoundly costly to Australia, including sea-level and fisheries impacts; but the speed and scale of future change remains poorly understood. A new national-scale and interdisciplinary Centre is required to understand the complex interactions of the ocean, ice sheets, atmosphere and ecosystems that will govern Antarctica's future. The Centre will combine new field data with innovative models to address Australia's Antarctic science priorities, train graduate students, develop leaders, engage the public, and enable major economic benefit as Australia adapts to climate change in the coming years and beyond.
Funding: Australian Research Council ($20,000,000)
Collaborators: Australian National University ($975,664); Curtin University ($87,720); University of Canberra ($87,720); University of Melbourne ($87,720); University of New South Wales ($975,664); University of Western Australia ($87,720)
Scheme: Grant-Special Research Initiatives
Administered By: University of Tasmania
Research Team: King MA; Blanchard JL; Boyd PW; Hill NA; Hindell MA; Lea MA; Lucieer VL; McMinn A; Watson CS; Reading AM; Bindoff NL; Chase Z; Coleman R; Halpin JA; Lannuzel D; Nikurashin M; Phillips HE; Strutton PG; Spence JP; Whittaker J; Williams GD; Noble T; Davies R; Heslop D; Selway K
Period: 2020 - 2025
Grant Reference: SR200100008

The Lost Atlantis between Australia and Antarctica Pin down the subsidence of the South Tasman Rise (2020)$20,000

Description: Our project addresses the Cenozoic evolution of the Tasmanian Gateway (TG) formed during the tectonic separation of Australia and Antarctica. Although the plate tectonic motion between Australia and Antarctica are well constrained, uncertainties remain around the detailed plate tectonic evolution of the TG, its evolving paleodepth, particularly through the crucial 300-600m transition, and around when 'shallow water' ocean current flows commenced through the gateway, their directions, strengths, possible linkage to glauconite formations and climatic consequences. Here, we aim to constrain the exact timing of TG subsidence and bottom current flow directions and strengths through the TG's centre. We will perform authigenic Neodymium (Nd) and Strontium (Sr) isotopic composition analysis and Argon (Ar-Ar) dating, on Eocene and early Oligocene (54 to 30 Ma) samples taken from sediment drill cores ODP 1171, DSDP 280 and 281 at the South Tasman Rise (STR). Our two key objectives are to:1)build a well-constrained STR subsidence curve for the Eocene and early Oligocene:a)Sr isotopes constrain timing of STR (DSDP 281) subsidence below sea level,b)Ar-Ar dating of glauconites (DSDP 280) constrain maximum water depth to <2000mbsl.2)constrain bottom water flow direction and strength, particularlya)from 54 to 30 Ma (ODP 1171, DSDP 280 and 281) (Nd isotopes)b)Ar-dates from glauconites (ODP 1171, DSDP 280 and 281) will constrain the timing of strong currents.
Funding: Australian and New Zealand International Ocean Drilling Program Consortium ($20,000)
Scheme: Grant
Administered By: University of Tasmania
Research Team: Whittaker J; Pekar S
Year: 2020

Formation of Williams Ridge, Kerguelen Plateau tectonics, and Australias Extended Continental Shelf (2020 - 2022)$83,849

Description: The Indian Ocean contains numerous enigmatic topographic features, and some of the least understood are submarine ridges. Our expedition will focus on William's Ridge, part of Earth's second largest submarine plateau, the Kerguelen Plateau, and on the once adjoining Broken Ridge. We will acquire and analyse rock samples and geophysical data from these ridges to understand how they formed and evolved. Our research will resolve questions about the plate tectonics of the Indian Ocean, determine if William's Ridge is a continental sliver, help understand massive volcanism triggered by mantle hotspots, and potentially contribute to expanding Australia's sovereign undersea territory.
Funding: Department of Environment and Energy (Cwth) ($83,849)
Scheme: Grant-Australian Antarctic Science
Administered By: University of Tasmania
Research Team: Whittaker J; Brune S; Coffin MF; Daczko N; Halpin JA; Uenzelmann-Neben G
Period: 2020 - 2022

Hotspot dynamics in the Coral Sea: connections between the Australian plate and deep Earth (2019)$0

Description: In a handful of locations on Earth, hot material rises from deep within the Earth to create lines of volcanoes such as the Hawaiian-Emperor Seamount Chain. We aim to test if the Tasmantid and Lord Howe Seamount chains, hidden in the seas off eastern Australia, should be included in this rare group and if the Louisiade Plateau to the north could have formed from the massive flood of basaltic lava triggered when a rising plume reaches the surface.
Funding: CSIRO-Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation ($0)
Scheme: Grant-Marine National Facility
Administered By: University of Tasmania
Research Team: Whittaker J
Year: 2019

Onset of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (2019 - 2021)$94,000

Description: The rearrangement of continents over geological timescales can open new connections between the Earth's major oceans. These oceanic seaways can dramatically influence patterns of ocean circulation and are implicated in the onset and expansion of glaciation at both poles. We will use a combination of plate tectonic, solid Earth and oceanographic modelling constrained by marine datasets to deliver a transformational change in understanding how opening seaways controlled the onset of major oceanographic currents, and influenced regional and global changes in climate millions of years ago. Unravelling the influence of seaway opening compared with declining CO2 in the onset of Antarctic and Northern hemisphere glaciation will enable more accurate future climate simulations.
Funding: Department of Environment and Energy (Cwth) ($94,000)
Scheme: Grant-Australian Antarctic Science
Administered By: University of Tasmania
Research Team: Whittaker J; Klocker A
Period: 2019 - 2021

Antarctic Gateway Partnership Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Operational Trials (2018)$0

Description: The Australian Research Council funded Antarctic Gateway Partnership (AGP) is addressing strategic science questions about Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. The development and application of multi-million dollar, innovative Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) technology as part of the AGP will enable collection for the first time of data which is vital to understanding the physical, chemical and biological processes at work around and under Antarctic ice. This will lead, for example, to much better estimates of ice sheet contributions to sea level change. This project will enable the first deployment of a new Explorer AUV in Antarctic oceans. This deployment to Davis Station will facilitate the testing and trials of the vehicle in a series of stages; commencing in open water and culminating in under ice-shelf missions. Operational trials of the AUV platform in Antarctic environments is critical to the development of the Australian capability in polar science.
Funding: Australian Antarctic Division ($0)
Scheme: Australian Antarctic Science Program
Administered By: University of Tasmania
Research Team: Coleman R; Boxall P; Galton-Fenzi B; Dutrieux P; King PD; Lucieer VL; Whittaker J; Williams GD
Year: 2018

Tectonic Evolution and Sediment Provenance on the West Australian Margin: Bringing East Antarctica back into the Equation (2018 - 2019)$30,180

Description: This project is aligned with objective No 5 of expedition 369 (see scientific prospectus), which broadly set to investigate the tectonic and depositional history of the Mentelle Basin during the Mesozoic rifting and breakup of East Gondwana. The proposed post-cruise research aims to determine the provenance and the tectonic history of the sandstones recovered at site U1515 to redefine the early tectonic and paleogeographic evolution of the rifting East Gondwana margin. The following specific objectives will address this overall aim:1.Examine the provenance of sandstones from selected intervals from site U1515 to identify source terranes and establish sediment dispersal paths. We will test the hypothesis of an East Antarctic provenance of sediments in the eastern Mentelle Basin and investigate changes in paleo-drainage systems across southwestern Australia and East Antarctica.2.Acquire high-precision (U-Th)/He ages from pre-breakup sandstones in the eastern Mentelle and Perth Basins to investigate the vertical motion of the whole conjugate region at breakup and tectonic links with conjugate structures in Antarctica.
Funding: Australian and New Zealand International Ocean Drilling Program Consortium ($30,180)
Scheme: Grant
Administered By: University of Tasmania
Research Team: Whittaker J; Halpin JA
Period: 2018 - 2019

How the complexity of continental breakup controls ocean circulation (2018 - 2020)$446,340

Funding: Australian Research Council ($446,340)
Scheme: Grant-Discovery Projects
Administered By: University of Tasmania
Research Team: Whittaker J; Williams S; Gaina C; Munday D; Brune S
Period: 2018 - 2020
Grant Reference: DP180102280

Characterization of sedimentary-tectonic evolution of Ridge A and its role in the late rifting/breakup process of the South China Sea (IODP Expedition 367/368 'South China Sea Rifted Margin') (2018)$13,299

Description: The project focuses on isotopic composition analyses of sediment samples recovered during IODP Expeditions 367/368 in the South China Sea, in order to understand the early stages of lithospheric thinning/breakup in the northern South China Sea. Oldest magnetic anomaly (basement ridge A) is drilled twice during the IODP expeditions, but different types of 'basement' material is recovered (MORB-like basalt, sediment gravel) which are dated to the same age. We propose two possible scenarios of the sedimentary/tectonic evolution of this basement ridge, which canbe tested with isotopic composition analyses (Nd, Sr, Hf) on the sediment gravel unit. Sr isotopic record on the authigenic fractions will provide constraints for the depositional age. Nd isotopes will constrain changes of source provenances through time of the deposited material.
Funding: Australian and New Zealand International Ocean Drilling Program Consortium ($13,299)
Scheme: Grant
Administered By: University of Tasmania
Research Team: Whittaker J
Year: 2018

The Balleny mantle plume: key role in Tasmania-Antarctic breakup? (2018)$0

Description: This frontier work will address first-order geoscientific questions on the fundamental processes driving plate tectonic motions, particularly the separation between Australia and Antarctica. It will focus on the role of the Balleny plume, an upwelling of hot material through the Earth's interior, that was responsible for the formation of many seamounts offshore Eastern Tasmania. It will also address the evolution of the Tasman Seaway, a critical component in the onset of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. This work will utilise marine geological data to resolve these outstanding tectonic and oceanographic questions.
Funding: CSIRO-Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation ($0)
Scheme: Grant-Marine National Facility
Administered By: University of Tasmania
Research Team: Whittaker J; Carey RJ; Williams S
Year: 2018

IODP pre proposal writing workshop Completing the Australian-Antarctic transect: Ocean drilling to reveal the nature of Gondwana breakup and the development of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (2018)$3,500

Description: The aim of this workshop is to bring together experts to develop a mature version of an IODP pre-proposal to be submitted in April 2019, based on our presentation 4.8 Completing the Australian-Antarctic transect at the IODP Regional Planning Workshop in Sydney. The aim is to drill within the Australian-Antarctic Basin to target the objectives: 1) Development of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, 2) Lithospheric thinning processes during Australian-Antarctic Breakup, 3) Climatic evolution of Antarctic glaciation.
Funding: Australian and New Zealand International Ocean Drilling Program Consortium ($3,500)
Scheme: Grant
Administered By: University of Tasmania
Research Team: Whittaker J; Bijl P
Year: 2018

The Kerguelen Large Igneous Province: dynamics of a pulsating mantle plume (2017)$75,553

Description: Large igneous provinces (LIPs) are formed from massive outpourings of lava in geologically short periods of time (1 to 5 million years). As a result, they are at times associated with extinctions of life on Earth.The Kerguelen LIP, one of Earth's largest, formed over a much longer geological period than other LIPs,over at least 25 million years. During this time, the volume of magma erupted and intruded could coverAustralia in 250-metre-thick lava flows. Despite its enormous volume, the Kerguelen LIP did not result ina mass extinction. This project investigates how processes deep within Earth's interior interacted withsurface motions to form the Kerguelen LIP. The project combines geoscientific data with open-sourcesoftware to link the deep Earth with surface geological processes. The intended outcome is to provide aclearer understanding of how the internal workings of our planet drive and interact with the Earth's crust,and how these interactions have impacted life on Earth.
Funding: Department of Environment and Energy (Cwth) ($75,553)
Scheme: Grant-Australian Antarctic Science
Administered By: University of Tasmania
Research Team: Halpin JA; Coffin MF; Whittaker J; Jourdan F; Merle R; Olierook H
Year: 2017

East Tasman Plateau - key to unravelling the onset of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (2017)$19,180

Description: The onset of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current was controlled by the Eocene rifting of Tasmania from Antarctica and evolution of the deep Tasman Gateway (e.g. Stickley et al. 2004; Scher et al. 2015). However, the exact mechanism enabling the onset of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current through the Tasman Gateway remains controversial, with rapid Eocene deepening (Stickley et al. 2004) and northward migration (Scher et al. 2015) both implicated. The source of controversy lies in alternative interpretations of the paleoenvironment and subsidence of the East Tasman Plateau, and the Cascade Seamount that sits upon it. Driven by interpretations of IODP drill site 1172 on the East Tasman Plateau, which was used as the type example for the region, the South Tasman Rise region (Fig. 1) is thought to have deepened rapidly in the late Eocene enabling formation of the deep oceanic gateway (Stickley et al. 2004; Hill and Exon, 2004). In this interpretation, the East Tasman Plateau was close to sea level during the Late Eocene and has subsided ~2 km since then to its present depth. However, the subsidence history inferred from dredge samples from the Cascade Seamount, a ~2000 m seamount sitting atop the East Tasman Plateau is significantly different (summarised in Figure 2). Here, dredged volcanic samples recovered opportunistically by fishing vessels also indicate near sea level conditions in the Late Eocene (Fig. 2; Quilty, 1997; 2001), but are located ~2 km shallower than the shallow marine Late Eocene sediments in IODP core 1172. Options to resolve this observed discrepancy include: 1) An alternative interpretation of the shallow marine siliciclastic sediments below 356 m in site 1172. Instead of being deposited in-situ as proposed by Stickley et al. (2004), these sediments may have been first deposited on the top/flank of the Cascade seamount and subsequently transported to site 1172 in sediment gravity flows (e.g. Hill and Exon, 2004; Scher et al. 2015). 2) Existing age and paleo-environment constraints for the Cascade Seamount rely heavily on rocks opportunistically provided by fishing vessels. As such, there is a possibility that these samples were not accurately located. 3) The glauconitic sand/silt unit in Site 1172 was formed in-situ, though at a greater depth than suggested by Hill and Exon (2004).
Funding: Australian and New Zealand International Ocean Drilling Program Consortium ($19,180)
Scheme: Grant
Administered By: University of Tasmania
Research Team: Daczko N; Whittaker J; Carey RJ; Scher H; Halpin JA
Year: 2017

Tectonics Erosion and Topography in East Antarctica (2017 - 2018)$52,900

Description: East Antarctica's subglacial topography is incredibly high and rugged for a stable continent. This frontier science proposal seeks to understand the drivers of this unusual topography, which are little studied and remain essentially unknown. We will study three fundamentally different areas of East Antarctica to determine how tectonics and erosion have influenced topography. Using recently collected datasets, we will map onshore geology and model onshore erosion since Gondwanan times. These new onshore observations will be linked with reinterpreted seismic data offshore to constrain the probable timings of events, and to understand where sediment moves to once it has been eroded. We anticipate that this research will develop new understandings of how the unique environment of East Antarctica has generated high, diverse and rugged topography within a "stable" craton. These results support broader initiatives to understand Gondwanan tectonics and Antarctica's cryospheric evolution
Funding: Department of Environment and Energy (Cwth) ($52,900)
Scheme: Grant-Australian Antarctic Science
Administered By: University of Western Australia
Research Team: Aitken A; Whittaker J; Sauermilch I
Period: 2017 - 2018

Antarctic / Indian Ocean Geophysics Research (2016)$14,009

Funding: Donation via University of Tasmania Foundation ($14,009)
Scheme: Donation - Individual
Administered By: University of Tasmania
Research Team: Whittaker J; Halpin JA
Year: 2016

Ore deposits and tectonic evolution of the Lachlan Orogen, SE Australia (2016 - 2019)$793,000

Description: South-east Australia has a complex and fragmented geological history. Over the past 550 million years platetectonic processes have resulted in the formation of metal-rich mineral deposits. This project aims to develop andtest models for evaluating past tectonic processes and configurations, using both new and existing geological,geophysical and isotopic data. The information gained will be used to identify areas of high potential foreconomically valuable ore deposits, thereby enabling more efficient prioritisation of mineral exploration efforts.This will increase the probability of significant ore deposit discoveries leading to national economic benefit.
Funding: Australian Research Council ($418,000)
Collaborators: Alkane Exploration NL ($30,000); AngloGold Ashanti Australia Limited ($30,000); CMOC Mining Services Pty Ltd T/A Northparkes Mines ($30,000); Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources ($15,000); Department of State Growth (Tas) ($15,000); Emmerson Resources Limited ($30,000); Evolution Mining ($45,000); Geological Survey of New South Wales - Department of Industry ($30,000); Geoscience Australia ($30,000); Heron Resources Limited ($30,000); New South Resources Limited ($30,000); Rio Tinto Limited ($30,000); Sandfire Resoures NL ($30,000)
Scheme: Grant-Linkage Projects
Administered By: University of Tasmania
Research Team: Meffre SJM; Whittaker J; Norman M; Cracknell M; Belousova E; Collins W; Arundell M; Cooke DR; Maas R
Period: 2016 - 2019
Grant Reference: LP160100483

East Tasman Plateau - Key to unravelling the onset of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (2016)$0

Description: This frontier work will address first-order geoscientific questions on the evolution of the Tasman Seaway, a critical component in the onset of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. Today, this current helps keep Antarctica cool, but its onset and role in stabilising icesheets on Antarctica remains controversial. This work will utilise marine geological data to resolve these outstanding tectonic and oceanographic questions around the evolution of key changes in past climatic and oceanographic conditions.
Funding: CSIRO-Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation ($0)
Scheme: Grant-Marine National Facility
Administered By: University of Tasmania
Research Team: Whittaker J; Carey RJ; Halpin JA; Williams S; Daczko N; Stilwell J
Year: 2016

Submarine volcanism and hydrothermalism around Heard and McDonald Islands (2015 - 2016)$65,600

Description: The scarcity of iron limits biological productivity and carbon uptake in the nutrient rich waters of the Southern Ocean. This project will explore for the first time the role of undersea "hotspot" volcanoes in supplying iron to surface waters, thus linking the solid earth and the biosphere. Existing data indicate that fields of submarine volcanoes extend for several hundred kilometres from Heard and McDonald islands, among the world's most active hotspot volcanoes. We will produce a three dimensional, high-resolution bathymetric and backscatter map of the seafloor surrounding the islands. We will map the water column for chemical signatures of hydrothermal activity. From this mapping we will identify and sample candidate active submarine volcanoes, a first for this region. We will measure iron abundance, and reactivity in buoyant plumes over and downstream of these volcanoes, and evaluate physical mixing processes that might deliver this iron to surface waters.
Funding: Department of Environment and Energy (Cwth) ($65,600)
Scheme: Grant-Australian Antarctic Science
Administered By: University of Tasmania
Research Team: Coffin MF; Chase Z; Bowie AR; Whittaker J; Phillips HE; Noble T; Arculus R; Trull T; Carey RJ
Period: 2015 - 2016

Reconstructing the submarine and subglacial East Gondwanan mountain chain (2015)$25,495

Description: This project will refine the plate model for the configuration, amalgamation and dispersal of East Gondwana, with implications not only for understanding the bedrock of Antarctica, but also the evolution of the Australian continent.
Funding: University of Tasmania ($25,495)
Scheme: Grant-Research Enhancement (REGS)
Administered By: University of Tasmania
Research Team: Halpin JA; Whittaker J
Year: 2015

Reconstructing East Antarctica in Gondwana: ground-truthing a new tectonic model (2015)$35,624

Description: The!sub4glacial!geology!of!East!Antarctica!remains!one!of!the!most!mysterious!frontiers!on!Earth.!Yet!the!underlying!tectonic!architecture!records!evidence!of!repeated!supercontinent!cycles!and!provides!the!template!for!palaeo4!and!modern!topography!and!heat!flow!crucial!to!the!evolution!of!the!Antarctic!ice!sheet.!The!Queen!Mary!Land!and!Wilkes!Land!sectors!are!particularly!poorly!understood.!The!continental!crust!here!comprises!fragments!that!collided!to!form!part!of!the!East!Gondwana!continent!~500!million!years!ago.!In!this!project!we!will!analyse!key!rock!samples!previously!collected!near!the!collision!zone.!We!will!derive!new!age!and!geochemical!constraints!allowing!us!to!ground4truth!domains!delineated!by!recent!geophysical!surveys!and!apply!these!datasets!to!a!revised!tectonic!model.!Quantifying!terranes!in!this!sector!of!East!Antarctica!will!lead!to!a!greater!appreciation!of!the!role!of!tectonic!boundaries!and!geothermal!heat!flow!on!the!behaviour!of!the!Antarctic!ice!sheet.!
Funding: Department of Environment and Energy (Cwth) ($35,624)
Scheme: Grant-Australian Antarctic Science
Administered By: University of Tasmania
Research Team: Halpin JA; Whittaker J; Daczko N; Fitzsimons I
Year: 2015

Geochemical affinity of dredged rocks from the Perth Abyssal Plain (2015)$19,755

Description: The Perth Abyssal Plain is a poorly understood ocean basin located offshore of Perth, WA, thathosts a critical early record of the continental breakup of the supercontinent Gondwana at ~130 -100 million years ago. This record elsewhere has been destroyed or overprinted. Our proposalinvestigates the affinity and origin of seafloor basalts and continental granites that have beendredged from the seafloor. We will apply state-of-the-art geochemical tools as part of anintegrated geological and geophysical study. We aim to produce a plate tectonic model for therifting of India-Australia-Antarctica and the birth of the Eastern Indian Ocean.
Funding: University of New England ($19,755)
Scheme: Grant
Administered By: University of New England
Research Team: Milan L; Whittaker J; Halpin JA; Daczko N
Year: 2015

The global consequences of subduction zone congestion (2015 - 2019)$712,600

Description: We will use a combination of 3D geodynamic modelling, plate kinematic reconstruction and geological and geophysical synthesis to determine how congested subduction zones influence plate kinematics, subduction dynamics, and tectonic evolution at orogen and global scales. We will deliver a transformation change in understanding the links between congested subduction, mantle flow, trench migration, crustal growth, transitions between stable convergent margin configurations, and deformation in the overriding plates of subduction zones. Determining these relationships is significant because it will provide dynamic context to interpret the geological record of ancient convergent margins, which host a large percentage of Earth's metal resources.
Funding: Australian Research Council ($712,600)
Scheme: Grant-Discovery Projects
Administered By: University of Melbourne
Research Team: Moresi L; Betts P; Whittaker J
Period: 2015 - 2019
Grant Reference: DP150102887

Deciphering Ontong Java Atoll, Nukumanu Atoll, and Kroenke Canyon, Western Equatorial Pacific (2014)$0

Description: Using the Schmidt Ocean Institute's research vessel (RV) Falkor, this project will investigate three prominent, yet unmapped and poorly known features on the Ontong Java Plateau (OJP) in the western equatorial Pacific Ocean: Ontong Java Atoll, Nukumanu Atoll, and Kroenke Canyon and Fan. The primary aims of the project are: to test potential genetic relationships between a) the atolls and the OJP, and b) the atolls and Kroenke Canyon; to understand and model how atolls and canyons form and evolve on oceanic plateaus, isolated from terrestrial influences and subject to sea level fluctuations; and to contribute to understanding tsunami risk on low-lying atolls. During the 30--day RV Falkor research expedition, research will acquire multibeam bathymetric and sub--bottom profiling data for the first time from Ontong Java Atoll, Nukumanu Atoll, and Kroenke Canyon and Fan. Multibeam bathymetric data will elucidate the morphology of the seafloor around the atolls, including their volcanic foundations, and along the Kroenke Canyon and Fan system. Sub--bottom profiling data will reveal the nature of the seafloor (sediment vs igneous rock) and its shallow stratigraphy. Together, the multibeam bathymetry and sub--bottom profiles will enable identification of promising sampling (dredging, coring, drilling, ROV) locations for future research expeditions.
Funding: Schmidt Ocean Institute ($0)
Scheme: Grant-Oceanographic Research
Administered By: University of Tasmania
Research Team: Coffin MF; Whittaker J
Year: 2014

Episodic mantle plumes: driving plate tectonics and continental margin evolution? (2014 - 2016)$389,339

Description: Plumes of molten rock rise from deep within the Earth resulting in massive surface eruptions that can lead to global mass extinction events. Despite their size, the role plumes play in driving movements of the continents is poorly understood. This project combines independent global and Australian geological and geophysical data with open software systems to link deep Earth and surface geological processes. This approach will result in a clearer understanding of how the internal workings of our planet drive and interact with surface geological processes, and how these interactions shape the environmentally important, and resources rich, continental margins and ocean basins.
Funding: Australian Research Council ($389,339)
Scheme: Fellowship-Discovery Early Career Researcher Award
Administered By: University of Tasmania
Research Team: Whittaker J
Period: 2014 - 2016
Grant Reference: DE140100376

The Perth Abyssal Plain: Understanding Eastern Gondwana Break-up (2011)$0

Description: This project will characterise the poorly known Perth Abyssal Plain passive margin by collecting new magnetic anomaly tracks from the oceanic crust and directly sampling rifted continental fragments such as the Dirck Hartog Ridge, Batavia Knoll and Gulden Draak Ridge. The new magnetic anomaly data will enable resolution of the controversial seafloor spreading history of the Perth Abyssal Plain, where currently there are two competing interpretations. This revised reconstruction will enable the development of regionally consistent plate reconstructions resolving the current poor fit between India, Australia and Antarctica. Geochronology and geochemistry on dredged samples will determine the affinity of these rocks for the first time, characterising the key tectonic features offshore southwest Australia.
Funding: CSIRO-Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation ($0)
Scheme: Grant-Marine National Facility
Administered By: University of Sydney
Research Team: Whittaker J; Halpin JA; Muller D; Daczko N; Williams S
Year: 2011

Research Supervision

Jo has a history of successfully supervising research thesis students in a range of plate tectonic and marine geophysical topics. She is always keen on hearing from students interested in global and regional marine geophysics, plate tectonics, and the interaction between the deep Earth and the surface, for example around topics such as Large Igneous Province formation, micro-continent continental margin evolution. There are regularly opportunities to participate in research voyages.

Current

Completed

Current

Degree	Title	Commenced
PhD	Tectonic Evolution of the Early Palaeozoic Lachlan Orogen	2018
PhD	Development of William`s Ridge, Kerguelen Plateau: tectonics, hotspot magmatism, microcontinents, and Australia`s Extended Continental Shelf - Geophysics	2020
Masters	Morphology and Habitats of Southern Tasman Sea Seamounts	2020
PhD	Evolution of the Seafloor of the Australian-Antarctic Southern Ocean	2020
PhD	The Geological Evolution of William's Ridge	2022

Completed

Degree	Title	Completed
PhD	How the Complexity of Continental Breakup Controls Southern Ocean Circulation Candidate: Qianjiang Xing	2023
PhD	Multi-sensor Acoustic Evidence of Submarine Volcanism across Diverse Tecto-volcanic Regimes Candidate: Erica Amy Spain	2022
PhD	The Antarctic Lithosphere Revealed by Multivariate Analysis Candidate: Tobias Sven Lars Staal	2021
PhD	Australo-Antarctica in the Supercontinent Cycle Candidate: Alessandro Maritati	2020
PhD	The Cenozoic Evolution of the Southern Ocean: Impact on sedimentation, ocean circulation and global climate Candidate: Isabel Sauermilch	2020
PhD	Bathymetric and Tectonic Consequences of Plume Interaction with the Ocean Floor Candidate: Sally Joan Watson	2018

Plate tectonics:Piecing together a 200 million year old jigsaw puzzle

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Plate tectonics:
Piecing together a 200 million year old jigsaw puzzle