January 2007

• Geomagnetic scientists on alert
• Students await Geoscience Australia cadetships
• Mt Isa survey completed
• Mapping experts assist VIC firefighters
• A new era for satellite imagery in Australia

Geomagnetic scientists on alert

Geophysicists from Geoscience Australia will be kept a little busier than usual monitoring changes to Earth's magnetic field over the coming few years as the sun begins its next 11 year cycle of sunspot activity.

The last "sunspot maximum" in 2000 was followed by a period of decreasing sunspot numbers, but scientists are now seeing evidence the number may be starting to rise again. If the normal pattern continues the activity should peak around 2011.

Geoscience Australia will record any increased activity in the Earth's magnetic field at its geomagnetic monitoring stations at Kakadu and Alice Springs in the Northern Territory, Learmonth and Gnangara in WA, Charters Towers in Queensland, in the ACT near Canberra and in Antarctica at Casey, Mawson and Macquarie Island.

More information on the expected effects of sunspots and associated solar flares can be found in the media release.

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Students await Geoscience Australia cadetships

A large number of anxious students are waiting to hear if they were successful in gaining one of Geoscience Australia's unique University Cadetships.

"The cadetship scheme will be offered to students who have been accepted into the Australian National University (ANU) to complete a geoscience focused degree, in particular the new Bachelor of Global and Ocean Sciences (Honours)," said Dr Neil Williams, CEO of Geoscience Australia. "This four year academic program will expose students to a broad spectrum of earth and ocean science disciplines, preparing them for careers in geoscience."

"This is the first year that Geoscience Australia has offered this university cadetship scheme. Since advertising the scheme in late 2006, we have received expressions of interest from a diverse field of students. All students who expressed an interest to Geoscience Australia in 2006 will be considered once they have accepted their university placements for 2007."

"Geoscience Australia recognises that intensive and diverse learning programs, coupled with professional work placements provide solid foundations for students in their chosen career fields. During the cadetship, students will contribute to current, cutting edge research projects providing them with an opportunity to apply their learning and advance their research skills in Australia's leading government geoscience research and information agency. The scheme is part of our response to address the challenges of skills supply in key science areas," said Dr Williams.

All interviews will be conducted after students officially accept their university placements for 2007.

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Mt Isa survey completed

Geoscientists from the Australian and Queensland Governments recently completed data acquisition for a major deep crustal seismic survey of the Mount Isa and Cloncurry region of the North West Queensland mineral province.

The joint venture with the Queensland Department of Mines and Energy Geological Survey group, the Predictive Mineral Discovery Co-operative Research Centre, and others used specialised vibrator trucks to obtain information from up to 65 kilometres below the surface.

The region surveyed is one of the world's most important base-metal mineral repositories, and a better understanding of the principal crustal architecture and basin-forming structures will help with future mineral discovery in the region. The survey illustrated the success of programs undertaken by Geoscience Australia in partnership with State bodies to better define Australia's resource potential.

For further details on the survey, please see the media release.

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Mapping experts assist VIC firefighters

In response to the bushfire crisis in Victoria, Geoscience Australia (GA) mapping experts have been sent to assist fire-fighters, by predicting where fires are heading, and to provide likely damage assessments.

Attorney-General Philip Ruddock approved a request for Commonwealth assistance on 20 December after available resources had been exhausted, with Victorian staff either on duty or stood-down for rest or welfare purposes.

"The Government is ready to provide any help it can and to fill the breach when firefighting resources are stretched," said Mr Ruddock when announcing the assistance.

Following the announcement Emergency Management Australia (EMA) activated the Commonwealth Disaster Plan which provides a framework for Australian Government assistance to State and Territory governments when their resources are limited.

Using GIS systems GA staff have been, and are, working in the areas of Benalla and Traralgon, providing relief for Country Fire Authority staff and allowing operations to keep running smoothly.

GIS plays an important role in the distribution of information about the extent and behaviour of fire, both to community members and strategic planners. Strategic planners use GIS to plan for water bombing and fire breaks.

Affected Victorian communities, particularly in the Gippsland region, have been kept up-to-date at daily meetings involving the display and distribution of maps showing the fire extent and closure of roads and parks.

Satellite images of the Victorian bushfires are available from the ACRES News Archive.

For current bushfire information please see Sentinel: The national bushfire monitoring system.

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A new era for satellite imagery in Australia

In late December 2006, Geoscience Australia commenced online distribution of images from the Japanese Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS).

ALOS will supply the Australian Government and the community with high quality, low cost Earth observation data for purposes including topographic mapping and environmental and disaster monitoring.

Under an arrangement with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Geoscience Australia is one of only four worldwide Data Nodes able to down-link, process and distribute images from the ALOS satellite.

Other Nodes are JAXA in Japan, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the USA and the European Space Agency (ESA).

Geoscience Australia is licensed to distribute ALOS data for non-commercial purposes within Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Pacific Island Nations. Other commercial entities will distribute data for commercial purposes.

To find out more about ALOS, including how to order ALOS imagery for non-commercial purposes from Geoscience Australia, please go to our 'ALOS overview - How to order' page.

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