CSIRO Australia Research Articles

THE AUSTRALIA TELESCOPE COMPACT ARRAY H I SURVEY OF THE GALACTIC CENTER

We present a survey of atomic hydrogen (H i) emission in the direction of the Galactic Center (GC) conducted with the CSIRO Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA). The survey covers the area −5° ⩽ l ⩽ +5°, −5° ⩽ b ⩽ +5° over the velocity range −309 km s−1 ⩽ vLSR ⩽ 349 km s−1 with a velocity resolution of 1 km s−1. The ATCA data are supplemented with data from the Parkes Radio Telescope for sensitivity to all angular scales larger than the 145'' angular resolution of the survey. The mean rms brightness temperature across the field is 0.7 K, except near (l, b) = 0°, 0° where it increases to ∼2 K. This survey complements the Southern Galactic Plane Survey to complete the continuous coverage of the inner Galactic plane in H i at ∼2' resolution. Here, we describe the observations and analysis of this GC survey and present the final data product. Features such as Bania's Clump 2, the far 3 kpc arm, and small high-velocity clumps are briefly described.

Measuring forest structure and biomass in New England forest stands using Echidna ground-based lidar

A ground-based, upward-scanning, near-infrared lidar, the Echidna® validation instrument (EVI), built by CSIRO Australia, retrieves forest stand structural parameters, including mean diameter at breast height (DBH), stem count density (stems/area), basal area, and above-ground woody biomass with very good accuracy in six New England hardwood and conifer forest stands. Comparing forest structural parameters retrieved using EVI data with extensive ground measurements, we found excellent agreement at the site level using five EVI scans (plots) per site ( R 2 = 0.94–0.99); very good agreement at the plot level for stem count density and biomass ( R 2 = 0.90–0.85); and good agreement at the plot level for mean DBH and basal area ( R 2 = 0.48–0.66). The observed variance at site and plot levels suggest that a sample area of at least 1 ha (10 4 m 2) is required to estimate these parameters accurately at the stand level using either lidar-based or conventional methods. The algorithms and procedures used to retrieve these structural parameters are dependent on the unique ability of the Echidna® lidar to digitize the full waveform of the scattered lidar pulse as it returns to the instrument, which allows consistent separation of scattering by trunks and large branches from scattering by leaves. This successful application of ground-based lidar technology opens the door to rapid and accurate measurement of biomass and timber volume in areal sampling scenarios and as a calibration and validation tool for mapping biomass using airborne or spaceborne remotely sensed data.

Announcing the new EiC

As I mentioned in my last editorial, my term as editor-in-chief (EiC) of the magazine is coming to an end, and it is my great pleasure to announce that the new EiC of the magazine will be Dr. Peter Corke from CSIRO in Australia. I am extremely happy and comfortable to leave the magazine to Peter who is not only an extremely distinguished scientist but also a motivated leader and pleasant person who will take care with dedication to keep the high level of the magazine and further improve it.

CSIRO Australia Post combustion CO2capture research program and research highlights from solvent development

CSIRO Australia Post combustion CO₂capture research program and research highlights from solvent development

CSIRO Australia Post combustion CO2 capture research program and research highlights from solvent development

This article was submitted without an abstract, please refer to the full-text PDF file.

231 SPERM SUBPOPULATIONS IN THE KOALA (PHASCOLARCTOS CINEREUS) EJACULATE

Koala semen contains a heterogeneous mixture of sperm morphotypes, mainly attributable to extreme degree of shape variability displayed by the hooked sperm head. By analogy with other species, we anticipate that the morphotypes may exhibit correspondingly different sperm-motility behaviors, largely caused by the differences in hydrodynamic interactions with the suspending media. This trend has been shown in human spermatozoa where motility behavior was demonstrably correlated with the sperm head morphology (Overstreet et al. 1981). In this study, we have investigated the heterogeneity of koala sperm motility profiles in semen in an effort to determine whether distinct sperm subpopulations within ejaculates are recognizable by the use of computer-assisted sperm motility analysis. Ejaculates from 5 males were collected by electroejaculation, then diluted and transported in Tris-citrate-glucose (TCG) diluent. Spermatozoa were washed through a 35–60% Percoll gradient to separate seminal plasma and the majority of the prostatic bodies from spermatozoa. Spermatozoa from the washed pellet were then diluted in TCG at 35°C, incubated for 10 min, and video recorded using a negative phase ×10 objective. Sperm motion parameters were then analyzed using the Hobson sperm tracker (Hobson Vision Systems, UK: Holt et al. 1996 J. Androl. 17, 587–596). Multivariate pattern analysis (PATN; CSIRO Australia; Abaigar 1999 Biol. Reprod. 60, 32–41) was used to distinguish 3 sperm subgroups, consistently shown in each ejaculate, within the data (1936 tracks × 6 kinetic parameters; VCL, VAP, MAD, BCF, ALH, LIN). After group allocation by PATN, all parameters showed significant differences between each of the groups (P < 0.0001). Group 1, approximately 25% of the sperm tracks, showed profiles of spermatozoa with fast, non-linear motility (VCL 106.88 ± 28.15; BCF 3.23 ± 3.81; LIN 14.08 ± 10.20). Group 2, approximately 27% of sperm tracks, showed profiles of fast, linear motility (VCL 63.92 ± 13.50; BCF 7.90 ± 3.42; LIN 28.10 ± 12.15). Group 3, 48% of sperm tracks, showed profiles of slow, non-linear or circular patterns of motility (VCL 39.05 ± 11.92; BCF 0.02 ± 0.35; LIN 5.15 ± 4.88). The recognition of 3 clearly identifiable subgroups supports our hypothesis that heterogeneity of sperm motility patterns exists within koala ejaculates. These may be a reflection of the heterogeneity in sperm-head morphotypes in koala semen, but that remains to be investigated in more detail. The clear distinctions between these groups, and the observation that all 3 subpopulations exist in each of the ejaculates, also suggest that the spermatozoa exhibit functional differences, possibly related to biochemical or maturational status. Many thanks to Dr. Michael Pyne and Dr. Vere Nicholson and their teams and animals at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctutary and Dreamwolrd QLD for all their help and support for the collection of samples.

Retrieval of forest structural parameters using a ground-based lidar instrument (Echidna®)

A prototype upward-scanning, under-canopy, near-infrared light detection and ranging (lidar) system, the Echidna® validation instrument (EVI), built by CSIRO Australia, retrieves forest stand structural parameters, including mean diameter at breast height (DBH), stand height, distance to tree, stem count density (stems/area), leaf-area index (LAI), and stand foliage profile (LAI with height) with very good accuracy in early trials. We validated retrievals with ground-truth data collected from two sites near Tumbarumba, New South Wales, Australia. In a ponderosa pine plantation, LAI values of 1.84 and 2.18 retrieved by two different methods using a single EVI scan bracketed a value of 1.98 estimated by allometric equations. In a natural, but managed, Eucalypus stand, eight scans provided mean LAI values of 2.28–2.47, depending on the method, which compare favorably with a value of 2.4 from hemispherical photography. The retrieved foliage profile clearly showed two canopy layers. A “find-trunks” algorithm processed the EVI scans at both sites to identify stems, determine their diameters, and measure their distances from the scan center. Distances were retrieved very accurately (r2 = 0.99). The accuracy of EVI diameter retrieval decreased somewhat with distance as a function of angular resolution of the instrument but remained unbiased. We estimated stand basal area, mean diameter, and stem count density using the Relaskop method of variable radius plot sampling and found agreement with manual Relaskop values within about 2% after correcting for the obscuring of far trunks by near trunks (occlusion). These early trials prove the potential of under-canopy, upward-scanning lidar to retrieve forest structural parameters quickly and accurately.

Modeling the hemispherical scanning, below-canopy lidar and vegetation structure characteristics with a geometric-optical and radiative-transfer model

This study applied a hybrid canopy geometric optical and radiative transfer (GORT) model to study the vegetation structure characteristics and lidar signals from a terrestrial below-canopy lidar instrument, Echidna Validation Instrument (EVI), developed by CSIRO Australia. Off-nadir scans from the below-canopy lidar show strong laser energy returns from both leaves and tree trunks. The GORT model was modified to include the effect of both leaves and trunks on below-canopy lidar energy returns by treating the trunks as simple uniform cylinders extending to the middle of each tree crown. GORT was also extended to allow multiple canopy layers by convolution of the canopy gap probability profiles for individual canopy layers. The extended leaf-and-trunk GORT model was evaluated by comparing the modeled and EVI-derived gap probability profiles in a single-layer pine plantation and a two-layer eucalypt forest at the Tumbarumba flux tower site in southeastern New South Wales, Australia. Results show that the new leaf-and-trunk GORT model improves estimates of EVI-derived gap probability profiles. This study demonstrates the potential use of terrestrial upward-scanning hemispherical lidar to retrieve forest canopy structural information. A future goal is to link these terrestrial hemispherical lidar measurements to downward-looking airborne lidar, such as the Laser Vegetation Imaging Sensor (LVIS), and spaceborne lidar, such as the Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) on ICESat, through a common model to provide large-area mapping of vegetation structural properties and biomass.

CSIRO and Australian innovation: A business commentary

SummaryThe Australian Business Foundation’s view of the role of CSIRO in Australia’s innovation system is predicated on a shift in perception about what constitutes innovation. Innovation is the smart application of knowledge to transform businesses, driven by market and customer demands, not just by the commercialisation of intellectual property from science and research. This re-interpretation, based on the Foundation’s own research, and its adoption necessitates a shift in Australia’s innovation policy from the current emphasis on increasing the supply of science and research to one that supports the ‘demand pull’ of business engagement with customers and markets. This wider angle on innovation policy maximises the benefits to Australia in terms of productivity and economic development. It also serves to expand, not diminish, CSIRO’s role as a catalyst for Australian innovation.

The knowledge tree: CSIRO in Australia’s innovation systems

This special issue of IMPP is devoted to presentation and consideration of the important aspects of CSIRO's roles in Australia's innovation systems. The recent Productivity Commission review of public support for science and innovation in Australia included CSIRO in its review but only briefly considered the nature of the context in which CSIRO operates. The review was broadly favourable to the Organisation as it has altered over the last few years, although it made no judgement on the level of funding appropriate to enabling CSIRO to maximise its contribution to innovation in Australia. The recent Budget, however, was more sympathetic to CSIRO; on the one hand it increased the funding cycle to four years and on the other allocated a significant increase in real terms and provided extra for the Flagships.

CSIRO: Partnering for the future

SummaryCSIRO was established in 1949 to provide research for industry and government to enhance Australia’s economic development and international competitiveness. Over a period of almost 60 years CSIRO has undergone a process of evolution and change. A substantial proportion of the Organisation’s research revenue is now derived from external sources and there is a greater commitment to partnering and collaboration with other public research agencies, universities, industry and government. More recently, CSIRO has adopted a much greater strategic focus in nine key areas of research through the Flagships Program. The research programme focus of the collaboration through Cooperative Research Centres has given way to a more project-oriented approach through specific and targeted collaborations and joint ventures. These changes are re-stating the role and focus of CSIRO in Australia’s national innovation system.

石炭資源の開発・利用に係わる環境技術と安全のアジアネットワーク 坑内リスク管理情報システム

Communication in underground is essential for mine safety and the importance is increasing rapidly. JCOAL and CSIRO in Australia are cooperating a research project about underground communication and risk management information system. The aim of the research is to make a revolutionary new mine safety monitoring system that involves a total risk management information system called Nexsys in the center. The new monitoring system intends to include a real time risk profile that indicates safety conditions in underground and decision support system that offer appropriate counter measures to mine operators in case of an accident. To realize these functions a knowledge base about various accidents is very important. Historical various accidents data on gas explosions and spontaneous combustions in Japan have been reviewed and a new accident knowledge base has been developed which includes newly-made three dimensional views of mine structure where the accidents occurred.Ventilation is a key factor for underground mine safety. An abnormal condition in a ventilation network such as a mine fire or roadway collapse is reflected on ventilation airflow rates rapidly. A computer program to locate the abnormal condition in the network using the airflow data from underground through the mine monitoring system was also developed and tested to add a useful tool to the new monitoring system. The details about the method for locating of abnormal condition in the network are described in the paper.

Final report on CCPR K1-a: Spectral irradiance from 250 nm to 2500 nm

The CCPR K1-a key comparison of spectral irradiance (from 250 nm to 2500 nm) was carried out to meet the requirements of the Mutual Recognition Arrangement by 13 participating national metrology institutes (NMIs). Because of the fragile nature of the tungsten halogen lamps used as comparison artefacts, the comparison was arranged as a star comparison with three lamps per participant. NPL (United Kingdom) piloted the comparison and, by measuring all lamps, provided a link between participants' measurements. The other participants were BNM–INM (France), CENAM (Mexico), CSIRO (Australia), HUT (Finland), IFA–CSIC (Spain), MSL–IRL (New Zealand), NIM (China), NIST (United States of America), NMIJ (Japan), NRC (Canada), PTB (Germany) and VNIIOFI (Russian Federation).Before the analysis was completed and the results known, the pilot discussed with each participant which lamp measurements should be included as representative of their comparison. As a consequence of this check, at least one measurement was excluded from one third of the lamps because of changes due to transportations. The comparison thus highlighted the difficulty regarding the availability of suitable transfer standards for the dissemination of spectral irradiance. The use of multiple lamps and multiple measurements ensured sufficient redundancy that all participants were adequately represented. In addition, during this pre-draft A phase all participants had the opportunity to review the uncertainty budgets and methods of all other participants. This new process helped to ensure that all submitted results and their associated uncertainties were evaluated in a consistent manner.The comparison was analysed using a model-based method which regarded each lamp as having a stable spectral irradiance and the measurements made by an NMI as systematically influenced by a factor that applies to all that NMI's measurements. The aim of the analysis was to estimate the systematic factor for each NMI.Across the spectral region (250 nm to 2500 nm) there were 44 wavelengths at which a comparison was made. These were treated entirely independently and thus the report describes 44 comparisons. For wavelengths from 250 nm to 800 nm (apart from 300 nm) all participants had unilateral degrees of equivalence (DoEs) with values consistent with their uncertainties for a coverage level k = 2. At all other wavelengths (apart from 1400 nm) all participants achieved consistency at the k = 4 level for the unilateral DoEs and the vast majority within k = 3.The results are a significant improvement over those of the previous comparison in 1990, especially considering that the declared uncertainties of most participants have been substantially improved over the intervening decade. These results are evidence of the value of the effort devoted to the development of improved spectral scales (and of the evaluation of their uncertainty) by many NMIs in recent years.Main text.To reach the main text of this paper, click on Final Report. Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database kcdb.bipm.org/.The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCPR, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA).

<bold>Long J. L.</bold> 2003. Introduced Mammals of the World: their History, Distribution and Abundance. CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood, Victoria, Australia, and CABI Publishing, Wallingford, United Kingdom, xxi + 589 pp. ISBN 0-643-06714-0, price (hardbound), $135.00.

J. L. Long 2003. Introduced Mammals of the World: their History, Distribution and Abundance. CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood, Victoria, Australia, and CABI Publishing, Wallingford, United Kingdom, xxi + 589 pp. ISBN 0-643-06714-0, price (hardbound), $135.00. Humans have been introducing animals to various regions of the world since before recorded history. Although John Long doesn't address prehistoric introductions, this tome constitutes a major undertaking to summarize historic introductions of mammals. We owe a debt of gratitude to Peter Mawson, who took on the job of completing this project when John Long passed away in 2000. After a key to the maps in the book, a short preface, acknowledgments, and a prologue (by Mawson), the book begins with a brief but synoptic introduction. Prepared by Mawson, this outlines in very readable format the reasons mammals have been introduced (esthetics, hunting, commerce, pest control, accidental escape), the principal global regions where mammals have been introduced, both the menace of successful introductions (e.g., competition, disease, hybridization, etc.) and the potential benefits (e.g., recreation, pest control), and some speculation on the future of introductions in the modern jet age. A one-page table summarizes the numbers of …

Searching for Biomolecules with the ATCA: First Results

A search for biologically significant molecules in the interstellar medium (ISM) is currently being undertaken with the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) of the CSIRO Australia Telescope National Facility (ATNF) at millimetre wavelengths. The search includes several chiral molecules, and glycine, the simplest amino acid. Some first results from this search are presented here.

E304 CHAR MORPHOLOGY FROM THE AUTOMATED REFLECTOGRAM OF A COAL AND ITS IMPLICATIONS ON BURNOUT AND ASH FORMATION

The paper presents the on-going research in accounting for heterogeneous nature of organic matter in pulverised coal. This is achieved by using the information from automated reflectogram technique developed at CSIRO Australia. The technique is seen as providing opportunities for characterizing coal in a way which, for the first time, will allow the heterogeneous nature of coal to be related to reactivity, ash formed and fine ash generation. All these aspects of coal utilization are related with char character. The aim of the research is, therefore, to correlate the char character to the reflectance of an individual coal particle. The coal is considered as a mixture of particles of different character in terms of chemical and physical properties. In the present work, the reflectance is considered as the main characterizing parameter for the organic matter in coal. All the bulk properties of coal or char can be obtained from the summation of the properties of individual particles. For example, each individual coal particle devolatilises to a different extent resulting in a distinct char particle. The properties of these char particles vary monotonously with reflectance. A correlation was obtained for volatile matter as a function of reflectance in such a way that the volatile mater could be obtained from the reflectogram analysis using this relationship. This approach is extended to char character. Char was produced from several coal samples and maceral concentrates in a drop tube furnace at 1400C. The porosity and average thickness of the char particles were estimated from image analysis. Coal particles with low reflectance are expected to result in porous and thin-shelled char particles. The was observed qualitatively in these char samples. A relationship between reflectivity/reflectance of coal particles and the porosity of the resulting char particles is obtained from regression analysis. This relationship is very important in modeling combustion of char particles and ash formation. The effect of char morphology on burnout is demonstrate using CBK7,a combustion model. The implication on ash formation is also discussed.

Controlling the redlegged earth mite

Louise Lawrence outlines work being done at CSIRO in Australia to control the red-legged earth mite (RLEM) with a single spray in the spring.

Interfacial ageing of high temperature carbon/bismaleimide composites

Abstract Ageing studies were performed on a carbon fibre–bismaleimide (CBR320/328) system developed by the CSIRO in Australia, with a fibre volume fraction of 55%. This material has a glass transition temperature of 302 °C and the effect of ageing at 204 and 250 °C on the interfacial region was studied. A variety of test techniques were employed to characterise interfacial property changes (mode I delamination, SEM, Raman); chemical changes due to ageing (Raman, FTIR); changes in glass transition temperature (DMTA) and weight loss. The results showed that both interfacial and resin degradation mechanisms differed between the two temperatures. It can, therefore, be concluded that accelerated ageing is not applicable to this system.

Artificial photosynthesis

Artificial photosynthesis is under development at CSIRO (Australia). The researchers are hoping that the byproducts from synthetic photosynthesis will produce fuel in the form of methane or food in the form of sugars and starches. The project leader, Vijoleta Braach-Maksvytis said that by mimicking photosynthesis ‘with a mix of manufactured materials instead of chlorophyll, we are hoping to develop technology that can reduce the large amounts of carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere.’ Although the technology is still under development, studies at CSIRO have produced energy in the laboratory and have generated methane as a byproduct. M2 Presswire, 23 November 2000.

Continuous modeling of intermittent stormflows on a semi-arid agricultural catchment

The major barriers to modeling hydrological processes in semi-arid and arid areas are a lack of understanding and model representations of the distinctive features and processes associated with runoff generation in those regions and a paucity of field data. In this study, TOPOG, developed by CSIRO in Australia, was modified by adding model representations of some of the predominant features and processes identified through field and experimental investigations on a semi-arid agricultural catchment with complex-terrain and mixed land use in the Loess Plateau of China. The modified models were then used to continuously simulate both slowly changing hydrologic states during interstorm periods and fast-responding overland and tunnel flows during stormflow periods. Finally, the effectiveness of model simulation under a wide range of rainfall and spatio-temporally varied land cover conditions was tested by comparison of simulated and observed stormflow discharges from both catchment outlet and internal plots. Considerable variability in simulation accuracy was found among storm events and within the catchment. The simulation results highlight the critical importance of crusting and some land management practices on stormflow generation and its spatial variation in this area. Overall, the simulations showed that the model represents reasonably well stormflows generated by rainfall events with recurrence intervals >2 years, which account for more than 60% of runoff and 70% of sediment leaving this area.