The polar cusp and boundary layer are important in coupling magnetospheric energy sources to the high latitude ionosphere. ULF waves are one of the processes by which this coupling is realized. To study the source regions and propagation characteristics of discrete Pc1‐2 (0.1–2 Hz) ULF wave packets, particularly unstructured emissions and Pc1 bursts at high latitudes, a triangular array of closely spaced induction magnetometers (∼150 km) was deployed beneath the average cusp projection during the 1992 Antarctic winter. From interstation time lags the wave velocity and direction of arrival were calculated with average uncertainties of ±60 kms−1 and ±8°. Wave sources were poleward of the array at low geomagnetic activity and equatorward at high activity. The sources also moved east to west with time, centred around local noon. These results are interpreted as indicative of the ionospheric signature of sources localized in the cusp, the low latitude boundary layer (LLBL) or the outer magnetosphere. Intercalibration of the results for typical events with extrapolations of PACE radar observations and DMSP satellite particle signatures support sources within these regions. Observed group velocities in the range 300–800 kms−1 with a mean of 450 kms−1 are consistent with wave propagation in the ionospheric waveguide. Signals above the waveguide lower cutoff frequency likely propagate away from the source in the ionospheric waveguide and across the magnetometer array. The results suggest a technique for monitoring the high latitude boundary regions and outer magnetosphere using local ULF wave measurements.

As part of the Australian Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS), hull-contact temperature sensors have been installed on six commercial vessels. Near real-time, quality controlled, sea surface temperature (SST) measurements from these sensors, and thermistors located in water intakes on nine research and commercial vessels traversing waters around Australia, are now available via the Global Telecommunications System. Comparisons with satellite SST observations indicate that the hull-contact temperature sensors and research vessels produce SST data with comparable uncertainties to those available from data buoys in the same region. These IMOS ship SST data will benefit the validation of satellite SST products and analyses, and validation of ocean general circulation models, over regions lacking in buoy observations, such as coastal areas and the Southern Ocean. Enhancing ship of opportunity sea surface temperature observations in the Australian region

Fluorometers are widely used in ecosystem observing to monitor fluorescence signals from organic compounds, as well as to infer geophysical parameters such as chlorophyll or CDOM concentration, but measurements are susceptible to variation caused by biofouling, instrument design, sensor drift, operating environment, and calibration rigor. To collect high quality data, such sensors need frequent checking and regular calibration. In this study, a wide variety of both liquid and solid fluorescent materials were trialed to assess their suitability as reference standards for performance assessment of in situ fluorometers. Criteria used to evaluate the standards included the spectral excitation/emission responses of the materials relative to fluorescence sensors and to targeted ocean properties, the linearity of the fluorometer's optical response with increasing concentration, stability and consistency, availability and ease of use, as well as cost. Findings are summarized as a series of recommended reference standards for sensors deployed on stationary and mobile platforms, to suit a variety of in situ coastal to ocean sensor configurations. Repeated determinations of chlorophyll scale factor using the recommended liquid standard, Fluorescein, achieved an accuracy of 2.5%. Repeated measurements with the recommended solid standard, Plexiglas Satinice® plum 4H01 DC (polymethylmethacrylate), over an 18 day period varied from the mean value by 1.0% for chlorophyll sensors and 3.3% for CDOM sensors.

Sustainable use of the ocean for food and energy production is an emerging area of research in different countries around the world. This goal is pursued by the Australian aquaculture, offshore engineering and renewable energy industries, research organisations and the government through the “Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centre”. To address the challenges of offshore food and energy production, leveraging the benefits of co-location, vertical integration, infrastructure and shared services, will be enabled through the development of novel Multi-Purpose Offshore-Platforms (MPOP). The structural integrity of the designed systems when being deployed in the harsh offshore environment is one of the main challenges in developing the MPOPs. Employing structural reliability analysis methods for assessing the structural safety of the novel aquaculture-MPOPs comes with different limitations. This review aims at shedding light on these limitations and discusses the current status and future directions for structural reliability analysis of a novel aquaculture-MPOP considering Australia’s unique environment. To achieve this aim, challenges which exist at different stages of reliability assessment, from data collection and uncertainty quantification to load and structural modelling and reliability analysis implementation, are discussed. Furthermore, several solutions to these challenges are proposed based on the existing knowledge in other sectors, and particularly from the offshore oil and gas industry. Based on the identified gaps in the review process, potential areas for future research are introduced to enable a safer and more reliable operation of the MPOPs.

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