RIEL seminar series
Recent increase in Northern Australian streamflow unmatched over the past 600 years
| Presenter | Phillipa Higgins | |
|---|---|---|
| Date/Time |
to
|
|
| Contact person | E: riel.outreach@cdu.edu.au | |
| Location | CDU Casuarina Campus Yellow 1.1.39 and online | |
| Open to | Public | |
There is a lot of interest in developing water resources in the Northern Territory. News stories abound about potential over allocations in the Roper River catchment, and cotton development in the Daly is another contentious issue. In our recent research, we used information from tree rings to reconstruct 600 years of streamflow records for the Daly River and found that high flows over the last several decades are unprecedented in the longer historical record. If we allocate water based on the recent high flows, we risk providing developments with unsustainable amounts of water in the long term, should flows return to the low levels previously experienced. Uncertainty over future trends in monsoon streamflow suggest a precautionary approach to development is warranted.
For further information see https://theconversation.com/as-industry-lines-up-to-take-water-from-a-wild-top-end-river-trees-tell-the-story-of-a-much-drier-past-177221
Paper is publicly available at https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2021WR030881
Philippa Higgins is a current PhD student with the UNSW Water Research Centre and a recipient of one of UNSW’s Scientia PhD scholarships. Her research explores the use of remote tree ring proxies to understand past climate variability in Australia and the wider South Pacific. Philippa was previously awarded an Erasmus scholarship to undertake a joint master degree in Groundwater and Global Change at UNESCO-IHE, and graduated with Distinction in 2017. Philippa has four years’ experience working in governmental roles focussing on climate change and water resource management. She has a long-standing interest in humanitarian engineering, working on projects including the impact of the McArthur River Mine on the community at Borroloola.
Related Events
Chinese kung fu classes for kids
Join our kung fu classes specialised for children. It’s more than just exercise—it’s a journey to a healthier, brighter, and more focused future for every child! The classes run every Monday at 5.30 pm, from 26 January - 30 March.
Read more about Chinese kung fu classes for kids
Tai Chi Kung Fu Fan
Join our Tai Chi Kung Fu Fan classes to learn a unique style of Tai Chi combined with other martial arts and dance movements! The classes run every Monday at 5.30 pm, from 26 January - 30 March.
Read more about Tai Chi Kung Fu Fan
Chinese calligraphy for beginners
The CDU Confucius Institute is now offering Chinese calligraphy for beginners, a new course on the CDU Casuarina campus. The workshops will run every Tuesday, from 5 pm - 6 pm, starting 27 January to 31 March.
Read more about Chinese calligraphy for beginners
