Identifying flood and drought events using a 500-year reconstruction of rainfall in the Australian subtropics as determined from hoop pine (Araucaria cunninghamii) tree rings

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dc.contributor.authorHaines, HAen_AU
dc.contributor.authorEnglish, NBen_AU
dc.contributor.authorOlley, JMen_AU
dc.contributor.authorHua, Qen_AU
dc.contributor.authorHeijnis, Hen_AU
dc.contributor.authorPalmer, JGen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2016-05-19T02:33:45Zen_AU
dc.date.available2016-05-19T02:33:45Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2015-07-01en_AU
dc.date.statistics2016-05-19en_AU
dc.description.abstractSubtropical Australia is highly susceptible to extreme events like the catastrophic floods that occurred in Southeast Queensland (SEQ) in 2011. This event was suggested to be a 1 in 1000 year flood, however, preliminary research of past flood deposits has indicated that a similar sized event occurred about 200 years ago. Our understanding of the past frequency of these types of events is limited because there are few long-term climate records available for this region. Historical precipitation records extend back to the 19th century, which is not of a sufficient duration to understand extreme event frequencies. Other annual proxy methods of rainfall reconstruction are needed to better understand the flood and drought history of this area. Tree rings provide an annual record of past conditions based on a single environmental variable that is limiting tree growth. Here we present the first long-term (>150 years) Australian subtropical tree ring reconstruction of rainfall from Lamington National Park, a natural area of rainforest on the southern boundary of SEQ. Hoop Pine (Araucaria cunninghamii) trees were used as they are one of the longest lived tree species in subtropical Australia, they grow in response to precipitation conditions, and they put on a visible annual ring that can be measured. This record was developed using a multi-technique approach where traditional ring width measuring, X-ray densitrometry, and radiocarbon dating were combined to create a robust chronology that was then used to reconstruct rainfall. Years with major rainfall events are confirmed through Calcium and Strontium signals identified in the tree rings using ITRAX XRF trace elements. Climate conditions for years with known flood and drought events were then compared to our reconstruction to identify potential extreme events in SEQ beyond the period of instrumental record. The methodology, results, and future directions of this research will be discussed.en_AU
dc.identifier.citationHaines, H. A., English, N. B., Olley, J. M, Hua, Q., Heijnis, H., & Palmer, J. G. (2015). Identifying flood and drought events using a 500-year reconstruction of rainfall in the Australian subtropics as determined from hoop pine (Araucaria cunninghamii) tree rings. Paper presented at the XIX INQUA Congress Quaternary Perspectives on Climate Change, Natural Hazards and Civilization 26 July - 2 August, 2015, in Nagoya, Japanen_AU
dc.identifier.conferenceenddate2 August 2015en_AU
dc.identifier.conferencenameXIX INQUA Congress Quaternary Perspectives on Climate Change, Natural Hazards and Civilizationen_AU
dc.identifier.conferenceplaceNagoya, Japanen_AU
dc.identifier.conferencestartdate26 July 2015en_AU
dc.identifier.govdoc6418en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttp://inqua2015.jp/program/INQUA2015program.pdfen_AU
dc.identifier.urihttp://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/6822en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherScience Council of Japan, Japan Association for Quaternary Research, and International Union for Quaternary Researchen_AU
dc.subjectFloodsen_AU
dc.subjectDroughtsen_AU
dc.subjectRainen_AU
dc.subjectAustraliaen_AU
dc.subjectPinesen_AU
dc.subjectIsotope datingen_AU
dc.titleIdentifying flood and drought events using a 500-year reconstruction of rainfall in the Australian subtropics as determined from hoop pine (Araucaria cunninghamii) tree ringsen_AU
dc.typeConference Abstracten_AU
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