Dr Michael Kinsela
Lecturer - Coastal and Ocean Geoscience
School of Environmental and Life Sciences
A deep dive to understand vulnerable coasts
There’s more to our beaches than where you place your towel and most of it is underwater – Dr Michael Kinsela is revealing the secrets of the seafloor to discover how the resilience of coasts to storms and climate change depends on what lies beneath.
Ask most Australians what they think a beach is and they will tell you about the glorious golden sand above the water line where they soak up some warmth from the sun after a refreshing dip in the sea. But few would know that the dry beach is only one small part of a much vaster sediment system, where sand is constantly on the move.
“The largest part of the beach system is actually underwater. It’s known as the shoreface, and it extends from where waves wash up at the shore, out through the surf zone, and far beyond to where unbroken waves first start moving the seabed,” said Michael.
“The shoreface is really the engine room of coastal change at longer timescales, such as over the decades to centuries that coastal planners need to consider in determining where will be safe or unsafe to build and live in the future.”
Michael has been working to identify and map coastal sediments in that zone, to study how shoreline change observed through history and forecast into the future depends on gradual sand movement between the beach and shoreface, and between bays where shoreface sand can sneak around headlands.
“Our coasts respond to changing waves and sea levels by shifting sand between the beach and shoreface until it finds a happy equilibrium. The redistribution of sand causes shorelines to move, which can be a problem where we have built to close to the shore.”
“The happy balance is different for each beach however, which means that we need to know the seabed geomorphology off each beach in detail, if we want to improve our predictions of coastal change at longer timescales.”
Sediment budgeting for coastal management
Mapping the coastal seafloor is the first step in a process referred to as sediment budgeting, which is basically where coastal geology meets accounting.
“What we really need to know to understand why some coasts are eroding, and to predict future coastal change, is where are the sources, sinks and pathways for sand in our coastal systems, and at what rates is sand moving between them,” said Michael.
“Evidence from the mapping helps us to identify sand connectivity and movement, which we can investigate further by deploying current and sediment sensors. The mapping and sensor data can then be used to guide sediment transport models.”
The data and knowledge generated through Michael’s research can be applied by coastal managers to plan adaptive management pathways, in which coastal change is monitored and compared with predictions to determine when management actions should be taken.
Peering into the past to forecast the future
Michael recently travelled to Brazil to take part in the UNESCO International Geoscience Programme, IGCP 725 Forecasting Coastal Change: From Cores to Code. The five-year project aims to bridge the gap between field-based coastal geology and modelling, to improve our ability to forecast future coastal change.
“In my research I use field sampling, spatial analysis and numerical modelling to collect and integrate clues from the past and present that can help us understand coastal dynamics.”
“Because we haven’t experienced the sea level rise projected over coming centuries in our modern history, we need to dig deeper into geological records of past coastal change to find the evidence that we need to guide modelling.”
“It’s important to remember that in Australia, for example, Indigenous cultures have also preserved knowledge of dramatic sea level rise and coastal change that were experienced tens of thousands of years ago, and that is valuable information too”.
The international project is bringing together perspectives, knowledge and experience from around the world to ensure that field geoscience and coastal change modelling are working together to improve insights from sampling and predictions for the future.
Community-driven coastal science
With past experience as a government scientist, Michael is convinced that effective coastal management strategies must involve communities, not just through consultation but in the study of coastal change. After all, coastal communities can be the ultimate environmental observers and stewards.
That’s why Michael co-founded the CoastSnap Community Beach Monitoring program with his collaborator Dr Mitchell Harley from the University of New South Wales.
“CoastSnap is a citizen science program that enables communities to accurately measure and map beach change with a snap of their smartphone, achieving similar accuracy to scientists using expensive equipment,” said Michael.
“Coastal researchers and managers can’t be everywhere all the time collecting valuable data that is needed to understand and model coastal change.”
CoastSnap began in 2017 as a pilot study funded by the NSW Environment Department, with two monitoring stations at Sydney’s world-famous Manly and Narrabeen beaches. With now several hundred CoastSnap beach monitoring stations in over 30 countries on all continents except Antarctica, and several Pacific islands too, the initiative has been a huge success.
“We knew CoastSnap was a great idea, but I don’t think we ever dreamed that six years later it would be a truly global community coastal monitoring phenomenon.”
“Communities love closely observing and learning about their dynamic coasts, while coastal researchers and managers can use the data to guide coastal models and identify thresholds that might trigger actions along an adaptive management pathway,” said Michael.
“The most important part of CoastSnap is that everything from station designs to the data methods and software tools are open source. That means that low-cost beach monitoring is now available for coastal managers and communities around the world to set up in their own backyards.”
Putting coastal adaptation into practice
Michael remains optimistic about how Australia can adapt its coastal management policies and practices to ensure that future generations can enjoy the treasured coastal settings and lifestyles that we have. And he thinks that every Australian has a part to play.
“At the end of the day we are all impacted by natural hazards and a changing global climate by rising insurance costs and government funded disaster responses.”
“The more people who understand dynamic coastal environments and the cost of failure to adapt in advance to increasing coastal risk, the better decisions governments can make now to reduce the physical, social and financial burdens on current and future generations.”
“We currently spend a lot of money on disaster response and recovery. If we matched that with funding for adaptation and resilience we would be on our way to a better future.”
A deep dive to understand vulnerable coasts
There’s more to our beaches than where you place your towel and most of it is underwater – Dr Michael Kinsela is revealing the secrets of the seafloor to discover how the resilience of coasts to storms and climate change depends on what lies beneath.
Career Summary
Biography
Mike is a coastal marine geoscientist and lecturer in the School of Environmental and Life Sciences. His primary research focus is coastal barrier-estuary systems and component depositional landforms, including beaches, dunes, deltas and the shoreface-continental shelf. Mike investigates their origins and evolution through geological (Quaternary) time, recent history and into the future, integrating data and knowledge across timescales to observe changing coasts as sediment-sharing depositional systems. He combines field-based physical sampling, remote sensing, spatial analysis (GIS) and modelling techniques to study coastal sediment dynamics, landform evolution and the ocean processes (waves, currents, sea level) that drive coastal morphodynamic systems.
Mike's professional experience includes research scientist roles with the NSW Government, where he developed a keen appreciation of coastal risk management and the environmental, economic and social challenges posed by coastal hazards and climate change. His applied research outputs include the innovative Figure Eight Pools Wave Risk Forecast, which is a coastal hazard early warning system operated by the NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service that predicts dangerous wave conditions on a popular rocky shore platform. The forecast system uses wave data and modelling from the NSW Nearshore Wave Data Program that he established in prior roles. Mike is actively interested in engaging communities in managing coastal systems through citizen science and community learning, and he is co-founder of the global community beach monitoring initiative CoastSnap.
He currently teaches the following courses:
- GEOS1040 - Earth: Our Dynamic Planet (course coordinator)
- GEOS2080 - Earth Sciences Fieldwork (course coordinator)
- SCIE2223 - Weather and Waves (course coordinator)
- GEOS3220 - Coastal Environments and Processes
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Sydney
- Bachelor of Science (Marine Science) (Honours), University of Sydney
- Graduate Certificate in Innovation and Enterprise, University of Sydney
Keywords
- Coastal geomorphology
- Marine geology
- Morphodynamics
- Natural hazards and risk
- Physical oceanography
- Remote sensing
- Seabed mapping
- Sedimentology
- Spatial analysis & GIS
Fields of Research
Code | Description | Percentage |
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370901 | Geomorphology and earth surface processes | 40 |
370504 | Marine geoscience | 30 |
370903 | Natural hazards | 30 |
Professional Experience
UON Appointment
Title | Organisation / Department |
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Lecturer - Coastal and Ocean Geoscience | University of Newcastle School of Environmental and Life Sciences Australia |
Professional appointment
Dates | Title | Organisation / Department |
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11/6/2012 - 25/3/2022 | Senior Coastal & Marine Scientist | NSW Department of Planning and Environment Coastal and Marine Science, Environment and Heritage |
Awards
Research Award
Year | Award |
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2023 |
Coastal Achievement Award - Development of CoastSnap Community Beach Monitoring Coastal Sediments Conference 2023 |
Teaching Award
Year | Award |
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2023 |
Teaching Excellence Award - Earth Science First Year Curriculum Redesign College of Engineering, Science and Environment, University of Newcastle |
2022 |
Student Experience Excellence Award - East Coast Tsunami Risk RV Investigator Voyage Academic Excellence, University of Newcastle |
Publications
For publications that are currently unpublished or in-press, details are shown in italics.
Chapter (1 outputs)
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2018 |
Cowell PJ, Kinsela MA, 'Shoreface controls on barrier evolution and shoreline change', Barrier Dynamics and Response to Changing Climate 243-275 (2018) Barriers exist in a continuum of forms, which are fundamentally governed by processes that shape the shoreface to determine the envelope available for sediment accommodation. This... [more] Barriers exist in a continuum of forms, which are fundamentally governed by processes that shape the shoreface to determine the envelope available for sediment accommodation. This envelope is contained between the shoreface and underlying surface defined by the continental shelf and coastal plain (i.e., the substrate). Barrier form also depends on coastal change that is constrained, following reasonably well-established principles, by the volume and type of sediment supply (or loss) and rates of change in sea level that modify the shoreface and associated accommodation potential. While the shoreface is therefore significant to barrier form and behavior, processes that shape the shoreface itself remain poorly understood. In particular, systematic long-term evolution of the shoreface, which is evident in geological data, indicates not only a time-varying morphology, but also a lagged response to environmental change. Such shoreface evolution has implications for barrier evolution (and vice versa). In this chapter, we review (1) relations between shoreface and barrier form, (2) limits to knowledge on shoreface behavior and insights from depositional records from which systematic changes over time can be inferred, and (3) exploratory experiments on the morphodynamic timescale of shoreface change. The third part of the review derives from results of experimental modeling of combined shoreface and barrier evolution constrained by geologic data. The numerical experiments demonstrate that, on intermediate timescales (decades to centuries) that are most relevant to coastal management and planning, adjustments are dominated by sediment exchanges between the beach and shallower portions of the shoreface in response to rapid changes in boundary conditions, especially sea level. Significant morphodynamic hysteresis can be expected from the partial adjustment of lower shoreface geometry during sea-level change, resulting in ongoing barrier evolution and shoreline migration after the stabilization of boundary conditions.
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Journal article (21 outputs)
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2024 |
Kinsela MA, Morris BD, Ingleton TC, Doyle TB, Sutherland MD, Doszpot NE, et al., 'Nearshore wave buoy data from southeastern Australia for coastal research and management.', Sci Data, 11 190 (2024) [C1]
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2023 |
Hanslow DJ, Fitzhenry MG, Hughes MG, Kinsela MA, Power HE, 'Sea level rise and the increasing frequency of inundation in Australia s most exposed estuary', Regional Environmental Change, 23 (2023) [C1] The large tidal lake systems along the Southeast Australian coast are amongst the most vulnerable estuaries in Australia to the effects of sea level rise. In these lakes, reduced ... [more] The large tidal lake systems along the Southeast Australian coast are amongst the most vulnerable estuaries in Australia to the effects of sea level rise. In these lakes, reduced tide ranges compared with the ocean, in combination with modest flood extremes, have allowed development to occur in close vertical proximity to the current mean sea level. In this study, we examine water levels within Lake Macquarie, Australia¿s most exposed estuary to sea level rise. We analyse water level data from the entrance channel and the lake to investigate recent changes to the frequency and duration of inundation or flooding of low-lying streets and examine the potential impacts of future rises in sea level. Our analysis shows that the numbers of days each year when water levels exceed those of low-lying streets, while subject to some variability, have increased significantly over recent decades. The increasing frequency of inundation is attributed to both mean sea level rise and an increase in tide range over the period of available data, which is thought to be associated with scour processes related to ongoing morphological adjustment to entrance training works undertaken over a century ago. Comparison of the projected behaviour of lake and open coast water levels under sea level rise shows the lake has significantly greater sensitivity to sea level rise. Projected inundation frequency for a given amount of sea level rise within the lake is double that of open coast sites, exposing infrastructure in the estuary to increasing risk of damage.
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2022 |
Turner IL, Harley MD, Hanslow DJ, Kinsela MA, Splinter KD, '?Coastal Management Guide-Managing Coastal Erosion?: A STEM education resource for secondary school teachers', CONTINENTAL SHELF RESEARCH, 244 (2022)
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2022 |
Kinsela MA, Hanslow DJ, Carvalho RC, Linklater M, Ingleton TC, Morris BD, et al., 'Mapping the Shoreface of Coastal Sediment Compartments to Improve Shoreline Change Forecasts in New South Wales, Australia', Estuaries and Coasts, 45 1143-1169 (2022) [C1] The potential response of shoreface depositional environments to sea level rise over the present century and beyond remains poorly understood. The shoreface is shaped by wave acti... [more] The potential response of shoreface depositional environments to sea level rise over the present century and beyond remains poorly understood. The shoreface is shaped by wave action across a sedimentary seabed and may aggrade or deflate depending on the balance between time-averaged wave energy and the availability and character of sediment, within the context of the inherited geological control. For embayed and accommodation-dominated coastal settings, where shoreline change is particularly sensitive to cross-shore sediment transport, whether the shoreface is a source or sink for coastal sediment during rising sea level may be a crucial determinant of future shoreline change. While simple equilibrium-based models (e.g. the Bruun Rule) are widely used in coastal risk planning practice to predict shoreline change due to sea level rise, the relevance of fundamental model assumptions to the shoreface depositional setting is often overlooked due to limited knowledge about the geomorphology of the nearshore seabed. We present high-resolution mapping of the shoreface-inner shelf in southeastern Australia from airborne lidar and vessel-based multibeam echosounder surveys, which reveals a more complex seabed than was previously known. The mapping data are used to interpret the extent, depositional character and morphodynamic state of the shoreface, by comparing the observed geomorphology to theoretical predictions from wave-driven sediment transport theory. The benefits of high-resolution seabed mapping for improving shoreline change predictions in practice are explored by comparing idealised shoreline change modelling based on our understanding of shoreface geomorphology and morphodynamics before and after the mapping exercise.
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2022 |
Harley MD, Kinsela MA, 'CoastSnap: A global citizen science program to monitor changing coastlines', Continental Shelf Research, 245 (2022) [C1] CoastSnap is a low-cost community beach monitoring program that turns everyday smartphones into devices to measure coastal response to storms, sea-level rise, human modifications ... [more] CoastSnap is a low-cost community beach monitoring program that turns everyday smartphones into devices to measure coastal response to storms, sea-level rise, human modifications and other factors. Underpinning CoastSnap is a stainless-steel smartphone cradle that is installed overlooking a beach in a location easily accessible to the public. Using the cradle for image positioning, passers-by simply take a photo of the coast and upload it to a centralized database, which in turn provides a crowd-sourced record of coastline change over time. Behind this simple idea are advanced image processing algorithms that then enable the shoreline position (and other coastal features) to be mapped from the community snapshots in a scientifically rigorous manner. First established in Sydney, Australia in 2017, the network of CoastSnap stations has grown rapidly over the past five years to now encompass 200 monitoring locations in 21 countries. Analysis of the 44 Australian stations managed by the Authors indicates strong community participation, with over 10,000 images and 4000 community participants to date and an image submission frequency ranging from approximately weekly to daily (average = 2.6 images/station/week). Example practical applications of CoastSnap include: as a tool to monitor high-frequency shoreline change and coastal inlet dynamics; to support conservation efforts on protected coastlines; and to directly inform the timing of dredging and beach nourishment activities. This paper describes the background and evolution of the project and discusses its successes, challenges as well as future directions.
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2021 |
Leaman CK, Harley MD, Splinter KD, Thran MC, Kinsela MA, Turner IL, 'A storm hazard matrix combining coastal flooding and beach erosion', Coastal Engineering, 170 (2021) [C1] Coastal storms cause widespread damage to property, infrastructure, economic activity, and the environment. Along open sandy coastlines, two of the primary coastal storm hazards a... [more] Coastal storms cause widespread damage to property, infrastructure, economic activity, and the environment. Along open sandy coastlines, two of the primary coastal storm hazards are coastal flooding by elevated ocean water levels and beach erosion as the result of storm wave action. At continental margins characterized by a shallow, wide continental shelf, coastal storms are more commonly associated with amplified storm surge and the damaging impacts caused by flooding of low-lying land. In contrast, along margins where the continental shelf is narrow and deep, coastal storm impacts are more often characterized by beach erosion, due to the typically lower magnitude of storm surge but a higher proportion of deepwater wave energy reaching the shoreline. A new Storm Hazard Matrix is presented that integrates these two distinct but inherently linked open coast hazards. The approach is based on the combination of two hazard scales. The first is a ¿coastal flooding hazard scale¿ that follows an established framework in which hazards are predominately driven by the vertical increase in ocean water levels during storms and any significant morphological changes caused by the storm are inferred. The second is a storm wave ¿beach erosion hazard scale¿ where hazards are predominately determined by the horizontal recession of the sandy beach and dune without necessarily large increases in water levels. The resulting framework comprises a total of sixteen unique combinations of flooding/erosion storm hazard regimes, each potentially requiring different disaster risk reduction approaches. Real-world application of the Storm Hazard Matrix is explored at contrasting coastlines for two major storm events, encompassing an extratropical cyclone that impacted the coastline of southeast Australia in June 2016, and a large hurricane (Hurricane Ivan) that impacted the Gulf Coast of the United States in 2004. The new approach identifies and distinguishes between the severity of localized coastal flooding and/or coastal erosion, and also provides enhanced insight to the nature, magnitude and alongshore variation of coastal storm hazards along the impacted coastline. Within the context of disaster risk reduction, preparedness and operational early warning, implementation of the Storm Hazard Matrix has the potential to deliver robust evaluations of storm hazards spanning a wider variety of both wave-dominated and surge-dominated coasts.
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2021 |
Power HE, Pomeroy AWM, Kinsela MA, Murray TP, 'Research Priorities for Coastal Geoscience and Engineering: A Collaborative Exercise in Priority Setting From Australia', Frontiers in Marine Science, 8 (2021) [C1] We present the result of a collaborative priority setting exercise to identify emerging issues and priorities in coastal geoscience and engineering (CGE). We use a ranking process... [more] We present the result of a collaborative priority setting exercise to identify emerging issues and priorities in coastal geoscience and engineering (CGE). We use a ranking process to quantify the criticality of each priority from the perspective of Australian CGE researchers and practitioners. 74 activities were identified across seven categories: Data Collection and Collation, Coastal Dynamics and Processes, Modelling, Engineering Solutions, Coastal Hazards and Climate Change, Communication and Collaboration, and Infrastructure, Innovation, and Funding. We found consistent and unanimous support for the vast majority of priorities identified by the CGE community, with 91% of priorities being allocated a score of = 3 out of 5 (i.e., above average levels of support) by = 75% of respondents. Data Collection and Collation priorities received the highest average score, significantly higher than four of the other six categories, with Coastal Hazards and Climate Change the second ranked category and Engineering Solutions the lowest scoring category. Of the 74 priorities identified, 11 received unified and strong support across the CGE community and indicate a critical need for: additional coastal data collection including topographic and bathymetric, hydrodynamic, oceanographic, and remotely sensed data; improved data compilation and access; improved understanding of extreme events and the quantification of future impacts of climate change on nearshore dynamics and coastal development; enhanced quantification of shoreline change and coastal inundation processes; and, additional funding to support CGE research and applications to mitigate and manage coastal hazards. The outcomes of this priority setting exercise can be applied to guide policy development and decision-making in Australia and jurisdictions elsewhere. Further, the research and application needs identified here will contribute to addressing key practical challenges identified at a national level. CGE research plays a critical role in identifying and enabling social, environmental, and economic benefits through the proactive management of coastal hazard impacts and informed planning to mitigate the potential impacts of growing coastal risk, particularly in a changing climate. The prevalence and commonalities of the challenges faced by coastal communities globally due to increasing pressures from coastal hazards in a changing climate suggest that our findings will be applicable to other settings.
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2020 |
Roger E, Tegart P, Dowsett R, Kinsela MA, Harley MD, Ortac G, 'Maximising the potential for citizen science in New South Wales', Australian Zoologist, 40 449-461 (2020) [C1] Citizen science is growing rapidly in Australia and globally, and presents valuable opportunities to engage with the community and amplify scientific research. The recent growth i... [more] Citizen science is growing rapidly in Australia and globally, and presents valuable opportunities to engage with the community and amplify scientific research. The recent growth in citizen science is largely attributed to technology and has resulted in citizen science now recognised as having the potential to augment and enhance traditional scientific research and monitoring. Citizen science can deliver a level of spatial granularity often not possible with conventional research. This, coupled with its potential to engage the public meaningfully in science, uniquely positions citizen science to monitor and thereby effect genuine scientific outcomes. However, the rapid growth in citizen science has also resulted in some data and information challenges that need to be overcome. Here we present a general overview of citizen science and some of the opportunities and challenges associated with its rapid growth, with a focus on Australia. We use case studies of successful citizen science projects in New South Wales to demonstrate its potential across areas such as cost efficiency and scalability. Overall, these examples show how citizen science has the potential to provide a monumental shift in our ability to monitor the environment while simultaneously increasing understanding and trust in science within the broader community.
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2020 |
Oliver TSN, Tamura T, Brooke BP, Short AD, Kinsela MA, Woodroffe CD, Thom BG, 'Holocene evolution of the wave-dominated embayed Moruya coastline, southeastern Australia: Sediment sources, transport rates and alongshore interconnectivity', QUATERNARY SCIENCE REVIEWS, 247 (2020) [C1]
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2020 |
Greenslade D, Hemer M, Babanin A, Lowe R, Turner I, Power H, et al., '15 Priorities for Wind-Waves Research: An Australian Perspective', Bulletin Of The American Meteorological Society, 101 E446-E461 (2020) [C1]
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2019 |
Harley MD, Kinsela MA, Sanchez-Garcia E, Vos K, 'Shoreline change mapping using crowd-sourced smartphone images', COASTAL ENGINEERING, 150 175-189 (2019) [C1]
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2019 |
Passos TU, Webster JM, Braga JC, Voelker D, Renema W, Beaman RJ, et al., 'Paleoshorelines and lowstand sedimentation on subtropical shelves: a case study from the Fraser Shelf, Australia', AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF EARTH SCIENCES, 66 547-565 (2019) [C1]
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2019 |
Linklater M, Ingleton TC, Kinsela MA, Morris BD, Allen KM, Sutherland MD, Hanslow DJ, 'Techniques for classifying seabed morphology and composition on a subtropical-temperate continental shelf', Geosciences (Switzerland), 9 (2019) [C1] In 2017, the New South Wales (NSW) Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) initiated a state-wide mapping program, SeaBed NSW, which systematically acquires high-resolution (2¿5 ... [more] In 2017, the New South Wales (NSW) Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) initiated a state-wide mapping program, SeaBed NSW, which systematically acquires high-resolution (2¿5 m cell size) multibeam echosounder (MBES) and marine LiDAR data along more than 2000 km of the subtropical-to-temperate southeast Australian continental shelf. This program considerably expands upon existing efforts by OEH to date, which have mapped approximately 15% of NSW waters with these technologies. The delivery of high volumes of new data, together with the vast repository of existing data, highlights the need for a standardised, automated approach to classify seabed data. Here we present a methodological approach with new procedures to semi-automate the classification of high-resolution bathymetry and intensity (backscatter and reflectivity) data into a suite of data products including classifications of seabed morphology (landforms) and composition (substrates, habitats, geomorphology). These methodologies are applied to two case study areas representing newer (Wollongong, NSW) and older (South Solitary Islands, NSW) MBES datasets to assess the transferability of classification techniques across input data of varied quality. The suite of seabed classifications produced by this study provide fundamental baseline data on seabed shape, complexity, and composition which will inform regional risk assessments and provide insights into biodiversity and geodiversity.
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2018 |
Hanslow DJ, Morris BD, Foulsham E, Kinsela MA, 'A Regional Scale Approach to Assessing Current and Potential Future Exposure to Tidal Inundation in Different Types of Estuaries', SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, 8 (2018) [C1]
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2018 |
Power HE, Kinsela MA, Stringari CE, Kendall MJ, Morris BD, Hanslow DJ, 'Automated Sensing of Wave Inundation across a Rocky Shore Platform Using a Low-Cost Camera System', REMOTE SENSING, 10 (2018) [C1]
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2018 |
Harris DL, Power HE, Kinsela MA, Webster JM, Vila-Concejo A, 'Variability of depth-limited waves in coral reef surf zones', Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 211 36-44 (2018) [C1]
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2017 |
Harley MD, Turner IL, Kinsela MA, Middleton JH, Mumford PJ, Splinter KD, et al., 'Extreme coastal erosion enhanced by anomalous extratropical storm wave direction', SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, 7 (2017) [C1]
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2017 |
Kinsela MA, Morris BD, Linklater M, Hanslow DJ, 'Second-Pass Assessment of Potential Exposure to Shoreline Change in New South Wales, Australia, Using a Sediment Compartments Framework', JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING, 5 (2017) [C1]
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2016 |
Kinsela MA, Daley MJA, Cowell PJ, 'Origins of Holocene coastal strandplains in Southeast Australia: Shoreface sand supply driven by disequilibrium morphology', MARINE GEOLOGY, 374 14-30 (2016) [C1]
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Show 18 more journal articles |
Conference (15 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | |||||
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2023 |
Kinsela MA, Linklater M, Ingleton TC, Hanslow DJ, 'Sedimentary features and sediment transport pathways on the southeast Australian shoreface-inner continental shelf', Australasian Coasts and Ports 2023 Conference (2023) We present new observations and analysis of sedimentary features, including bedforms, on the shoreface-inner shelf of southeast Australia. Lidar coastal seabed mapping is classifi... [more] We present new observations and analysis of sedimentary features, including bedforms, on the shoreface-inner shelf of southeast Australia. Lidar coastal seabed mapping is classified and investigated to reveal the subtle morphology of sedimentary plains. Preliminary interpretations are made from feature morphology and distributions, past observations and global analogues. Our findings reveal new complexity across the dynamic shoreface-inner shelf and identify pathways and processes for along-shelf sediment transport and coast-shelf sediment connectivity. The observations highlight where repeat seabed mapping could reveal further insights on coastal sediment dynamics. Vessel-based seabed mapping and sampling currently in progress is essential for ground truthing interpretations and repeat mapping could reveal modes and rates of change over time.
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2023 |
Buller EJ, Power HE, Kinsela MA, Mollison KC, Hubble TCT, 'Assessing the Tsunamigenic Potential of a Submarine Landslide Offshore Brooms Head, Australia', Australasian Coasts and Ports 2023 Conference (2023) Submarine landslides (SMLS) are capable of triggering tsunamis that can be hazardous to nearby coastal populations and oceanic infrastructure, with SMLS-generated tsunami generall... [more] Submarine landslides (SMLS) are capable of triggering tsunamis that can be hazardous to nearby coastal populations and oceanic infrastructure, with SMLS-generated tsunami generally having more localised impacts and higher run-up distances than that of seismically generated tsunami. The full extent of the Brooms Head (BH) SMLS complex was recently mapped in 2022 onboard the RV Investigator. Prior to this, the bathymetry of this region was incomplete with previously identified SMLS scars only partially mapped. Since the acquisition of new bathymetry for the BH SMLS complex, a larger SMLS headscarp has been identified, providing new evidence for a large landslide site along the south-east Australian continental margin (SEACM). The aim of this study was to assess the tsunamigenic potential and associated hazard to the nearby coastline posed by the BH SMLS complex. SMLS-generated tsunami modelling was conducted using the two-layer extension of the open-source numerical code, Basilisk. The model has been extensively validated for and benchmarked against both laboratory and real-world tsunami data. Density of the failing sediment has been shown to greatly influence the resultant tsunami, hence, a range of density values, calculated during sediment core analysis along the SEACM was applied in this study. Results indicate that the adjacent coastline, particularly Yamba and the surrounding region, will be impacted by a damaging tsunami < 45 minutes after initial sediment failure, highlighting the importance of incorporating SMLS-generated tsunami modelling into coastal hazard assessment along the east Australian coastline.
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2023 |
Kinsela M, Owers C, Power H, Doyle T, Hanslow D, 'MIGRATION AND WELDING OF AN ESTUARINE BARRIER-SPIT DRIVEN BY DELTA EVOLUTION AND STORMS', Proceedings of the Coastal Engineering Conference (2023)
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2019 |
Zieger S, Greenslade D, Harley M, Turner I, Splinter K, Hansen J, et al., 'Variable-resolution wave modelling for coastal applications', Australasian Coasts and Ports 2019 Conference, Hobart, Australia (2019) [E1]
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2019 |
Leaman CK, Splinter KD, Harley MD, Turner IL, Kinsela MA, 'Could an early warning system have forecast the impacts of a recent coastal erosion event along the SE Australian coast?', Australasian Coasts and Ports 2019 Conference, Hobart, Australia (2019) [E1]
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2019 |
Hanslow DJ, Fitzhenry MG, Power HE, Kinsela MA, Hughes MG, 'Rising tides: Tidal inundation in South east Australian estuaries', Australasian Coasts and Ports 2019 Conference, Hobart, Tasmania (2019) [E1]
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2017 |
Harley MD, Turner IL, Middleton JH, Kinsela MA, Hanslow D, Splinter KD, Mumford P, 'Observations of beach recovery in SE Australia following the June 2016 east coast low', Australasian Coasts and Ports 2017 Conference, Cairns, Australia (2017) [E1]
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2016 |
Kinsela MA, Morris BD, Daley MJA, Hanslow DJ, 'A flexible approach to forecasting coastline change on wave- dominated beaches', Journal of Coastal Research, Sydney, Australia (2016) [E1]
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2016 |
Hanslow DJ, Dela-Cruz J, Morris BD, Kinsela MA, Foulsham E, Linklater M, Pritchard TR, 'Regional scale coastal mapping to underpin strategic land use planning in Southeast Australia', Journal of Coastal Research, Sydney, Australia (2016) [E1]
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Show 12 more conferences |
Grants and Funding
Summary
Number of grants | 4 |
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Total funding | $280,583 |
Click on a grant title below to expand the full details for that specific grant.
20231 grants / $202,510
NSW Disaster Risk Reduction: Coastal Erosion Modelling$202,510
Funding body: NSW Department of Planning and Environment
Funding body | NSW Department of Planning and Environment |
---|---|
Project Team | Doctor Michael Kinsela, Doctor Michael Kinsela, David Hanslow, Associate Professor Hannah Power |
Scheme | Research Project |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2023 |
Funding Finish | 2024 |
GNo | G2201298 |
Type Of Funding | C2400 – Aust StateTerritoryLocal – Other |
Category | 2400 |
UON | Y |
20223 grants / $78,073
Seabed mapping to inform sediment budgets for coastal management$52,144
Funding body: NSW Department of Planning and Environment
Funding body | NSW Department of Planning and Environment |
---|---|
Project Team | Doctor Michael Kinsela, Conjoint Associate Professor Ron Boyd, Dr Tim Ingleton, Professor Colin Woodroffe |
Scheme | Research Project |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2022 |
Funding Finish | 2023 |
GNo | G2200820 |
Type Of Funding | C2400 – Aust StateTerritoryLocal – Other |
Category | 2400 |
UON | Y |
Mapping the Forster-Manning coastal seabed sediments to improve future shoreline change forecasts$14,929
Funding body: College of Engineering, Science and Environment (CESE), University of Newcastle
Funding body | College of Engineering, Science and Environment (CESE), University of Newcastle |
---|---|
Project Team | Doctor Michael Kinsela, Associate Professor Ron Boyd |
Scheme | CESE faculty funding |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2022 |
Funding Finish | 2022 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | N |
ARDC National Wave Infrastructure Work Package 3: National Standards for Quality Control of Wave Data$11,000
Funding body: NSW Department of Planning and Environment
Funding body | NSW Department of Planning and Environment |
---|---|
Project Team | Doctor Michael Kinsela |
Scheme | Biodiversity Conservation Science, Science Economics and Insights - Research Grant |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2022 |
Funding Finish | 2023 |
GNo | G2201067 |
Type Of Funding | C2300 – Aust StateTerritoryLocal – Own Purpose |
Category | 2300 |
UON | Y |
News
News • 27 May 2022
Scientists and students onboard to map East coast tsunami risk
A team of marine scientists and university students are onboard to investigate the causes and consequences of the submarine landslides and deep-marine canyons along Australia's eastern edge during a five-week voyage on CSIRO research vessel (RV) Investigator. The collaborative research project includes students, volunteers and researchers from the University of Newcastle and the University of Sydney.
Dr Michael Kinsela
Position
Lecturer - Coastal and Ocean Geoscience
School of Environmental and Life Sciences
College of Engineering, Science and Environment
Contact Details
michael.kinsela@newcastle.edu.au | |
Links |
Personal Blogs |
Office
Room | G106a |
---|---|
Building | Earth Sciences |
Location | Callaghan University Drive Callaghan, NSW 2308 Australia |