greg skilbeck web page

Professor Greg Skilbeck


Current Appointment: Professor of Earth Sciences Contact: Department of Environmental Sciences University of Technology, Sydney P.O. Box 123 BROADWAY NSW 2007 Australia Office: Building 4, Rm 5.45C Phone: +61 2 9514 1760 Fax: +61 2 9514 4079 Mobile: +61 41 940 4177 E-Mail: Greg.Skilbeck@uts.edu.au. Profile Greg Skilbeck is a sedimentary geologist with expertise in: interpretation of depositional environments, sedimentary petrology, diagenesis, and physical properties of sediments. sequence stratigraphy and seismic interpretation sedimentary basin analysis, and marine geoscience and palaeoclimate studies. He was employed in the Australian petroleum exploration industry in the 1980's where he was involved in exploration in the Cooper Basin and Northwest Shelf, and gained experience with 2D and 3D seismic and sequence stratigraphic interpretation and qualitative and quantitative geophysical log analysis. Since 1988 he has been on the academic staff of the University of Technology, Sydney, where he is currently Professor and Head of Department of Environmental Sciences. During that period his research interests have been in sedimentation associated with convergent margins, specifically reconstructing basin forming-processes from stratigraphic sequences. Most of this work was undertaken in the New England Fold Belt, but he has also carried out investigations in the Sydney-Gunnedah, Cobar and Darling Basins. In order to provide modern constraints on these studies, he participated in the Mediterranean tectonics leg of the Ocean Drilling Program, and has also carried out a petroleum evaluation project in China for the Earth Science Resources Institute (University of South Carolina), which involved assessment of the extensional basins along the convergent Pacific margin of China. With the change in academic focus of the Earth Sciences at UTS from 1996 onwards his research direction has shifted to the study of modern and recent sediments in the deep oceans, and in shallow marine and coastal environments. He is currently investigating Late Quaternary palaeoclimatic and sea level reconstructions from lake sediments in NSW (ARC funded) and Hawai'i and oceanic sediments in the central and eastern Pacific, particularly to do with reconstructing palaeo El Nino. He participated in the eastern tropical Pacific deep biosphere leg of the ODP in 2002, sailing as a sediment physical properties specialist. He is currently a program leader in the International Atomic Energy Agency (UNESCO) Co-ordinated Research Project on the Nuclear and Isotope Studies of the El Nino Phenomenon (Project K41009, 2004-2009). Greg has served as: - Convenor of the 15th Australian Geological Convention (July, 2000), - Member of the Australian ODP Scientific Committee (2000-2003), - Pacific Rim Consortium representative on the Ocean Drilling Program - Scientific Measurements Panel (1999-2001) Publicity ODP-related UTS News Story Research Projects El Nino : Study of laminated sediments from the Peru continental margin. Cores collected during Leg 201 of the ODP. Currently analysing early Post Glacial section (in Hole 1227B) and Holocene sections (in Holes 1228B and 1229E). The work is included as project in the International Atomic Energy Agency (UNESCO) Co-ordinated Research Project on the Nuclear and Isotope Studies of the El Nino Phenomenon Project K41009, 2004-2009). Funded by Australian ODP, IAEA, AINSE grants. Eastern Australian Palaeoclimate Archives : Study of eastern Australian temperate estuary sediments from Tuggerah Lakes to Myall Lakes. Investigating sedimentation history and palaeoclimate history of region. Funded by ARC Discovery Project DP0209388 (2002-2004). Laboratory Facilities I run a physical properties and core logging laboratory with the following equipment (funded through an ARC LIEF grant 2000): *MultiSensorCore Logger (MSCL)* We have a Geotek multisensor core logger with gamma attenuation density, p-wave and magnetic susceptibility sensors. Figure: MSCL *Piston and Vibrocoring* We have a range of shallow coring systems available including: - Rossfelder Vibrocorer (up to 200 m; 3-phase power) (95 mm diameter) - Custom made Vibrocoring system (up to 10m water depth) (95 mm) - Piston Corer (max. 10 m water depth; 38mm diameter).These are supported by a Yamba punt fitted with an aluminium derrick, suitable for lake and estuary work. *Grain Size Analysis* The lab has available an old an clunky Malvern 2600 Laser diffraction grain size analyser. It takes a while to get wound up and it uses more sample than the modern machines, but it gets the job done. Analytical range from 0.5 to 500 microns. *Current Measurements* We have just purchased a Sontek River Surveyor current meter, suitable for use in lake and estuary settings. *Other Facilities* UTS Science runs a fully equipped microstructural analytical laboratory with a range of electron microscope and XRD facilities available. Recent Graduate Students Iona Flett (graduated 2003) – "The History of Algal Blooms in the Myall Lakes" Michael Watson (graduated 2004) – "The Sedimentary Record of ENSO in the Eastern Equatorial Pacific Ocean and Peru Continental Margin" Salah Abdullah (graduated 2004) – "The influence of sedimentary depositional patterns and syn-sedimentary faulting on the distribution of Iagifu-Koi-Iange reservoir facies in the Papuan Foreland Basin (PNG)" Teaching At UTS *Current Teaching:* I am currently involved in teaching the following subjects at UTS: 66102:Introduction to Earth Systems (1st year core) 91153:Catchment Ecosystems (1st year core) 91126:Coral Reef Ecosystems (3rd year elective) 66513:Marine Geosciences (3rd year elective) *Asia-Pacific University of the Sea* In 2005, I and a group of colleagues from ANU, U.Syd and UNSW will be running the inaugural Asia-Pacific University of the Sea, on board the French research vessel Marion du Fresne. Cruise Flyer Application Form *Other teaching involvement:* SUCOGG Advanced Clastic Basin Analysis SUCOGG 2D3D Seismic Interpretation *Past Teaching:* In the past at UTS I have taught the following subjects: Geology 1 Earth Sciences 1 Industrial Training Engineering Geology Sedimentary Geology SurficialProcesses and Products Sedimentary Basin Analysis Geological Mapping Remote Sensing Geological Mapping Geodynamics Technical Communication Earth Resources Quaternary and Environmental Geology Geophysics Exploration Geophysics Fossil Fuels/Fossil Fuels (Honours) Advanced Fossil Fuels Employment History: 2004- : Professor and Head of Department (Environmental Sciences, UTS) 2003-2006: Conjoint Associate Professor (University of Newcastle) 1998-2004: A/Professor and Head of Department (Environmental Sciences, UTS) 1996-1997: Head of Department (Applied Geology, UTS) 1991-1997: Senior Lecturer (UTS) 1988-1991: Lecturer (UTS) 1984-1987: Exploration Geoscientist (Santos Ltd, Adelaide) 1981-1984: Projects Officer (Earth Resources Foundation, Univ. Sydney). 1979-1981: Tutor (Geology & Geophysics, University of Sydney). Membership of Professional Bodies: Geological Society of Australia (1979- ) Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists (1979- ) Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists (1992- ) American Geophysical Union (1995- ) Australian Institute of Geoscientists (1995- ) Australian Quaternary Science Association (2002- ) Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia (1985-2000) Qualifications BSc (Hons) – University of Sydney, 1978 PhD – University of Sydney, 1987 Other Activities Floating University Australian Ocean Sciences Opinion Piece: Australia's involvement in the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP): Economic Burden or Guaranteed Success? Publications (1995-2005) Books/Contributions to Books 2004 Skilbeck, C.G., Korsch, R.J., and He, Fuxiang, (2004). Petrology and whole rock geochemistry of clastic sedimentary rocks from the Cranky Corner Basin. In Facer, R.A. and Foster, C.B. (eds) Geology of the Cranky Corner Basin. Coal and Petroleum Bulletin (NSW Geological Survey ), 4, 65-105. 2003 D'Hondt, S, Jorgensen, B.B., Miller, J. Skilbeck, C.G., et al.2 (2003). Controls on microbial communities in deeply buried sediments, eastern equatorial Pacific and Peru margin. ." Preliminary report of the Ocean Drilling Program, Ocean Drilling Program, Texas A & M University, Texas, USA, 90p. + Figures (Online access). 2000 Skilbeck, C.G. and Hubble, T.C.T. (eds) (2000). Understanding Planet Earth: Searching for a Sustainable Future. Abstracts of the 15th Geological Convention, University of Technology Sydney, July 2000. 577p. 1997 Skilbeck, C.G., (1997). "Sequence Stratigraphy of the Myall Trough". Field Excursion Guide for Sequence Stratigraphy short course, June 1997. 34p. 1996 Comas, M.C., Zahn, R., Klaus, A., Auburg, C., Bernasconi, S., Belanger, P., Cornell, W., de Kaenel, E., de Larouziere, F., Doose, H., Hobart, M., Iaccarino, S., Ippach, P., Marsaglia, K., Myers, P., Murat, A., O'Sullivan, G., Platt, J.P., Prassard, M., Siesser, W., Skilbeck, C.G., Soto, J.I., Tandon, K., Torii, M., Tribble, J.S. and Wilkens, R., 1996, Mediterranean Sea II: The Western Mediterranean. Proceedings of the Ocean Drilling Programm; Initial Reports. National Science Foundation and Joint Oceanographic Institutions Inc. 1023p. (Book). Refereed Journal Articles 2005 Skilbeck, C.G., Rolph, T.C., Hill, N., Woods, J. and Wilkens, R.H., 2005: Holocene Millennial/Centennial-Scale Multi-Proxy Cyclicity in Temperate Eastern Australian Estuary Sediments. (In press Journal of Quaternary Research). Skilbeck, C.G.. and Fink, D., 2004, Radiocarbon dating and sedimentation rates for Holocene-Late Pleistocene sediments, eastern equatorial Pacific and Peru continental margin. (Submitted to Leg 201 Scientific Results volume, July 2004). Meister, P., Prokopenko, M., Skilbeck, C.G., Watson, M., and McKenzie, J.A., 2004, Compilation of total organic and inorganic carbon data from Peru Margin and Eastern Equatorial Pacific Drill Sites (ODP Legs 112, 138 and 201). (Submitted to Leg 201 Scientific Results volume, July 2004). 2004 D'Hondt, S., Jørgensen, B., Miller, D.J., Blake, R., Cragg, B.A., Dickens, G.R., Ferdelman, T., Hinrichs, K-U, Holm, N.G., Mitterer, R., Spivack, A., Bekins, B.A., Ford, K., Gettemy, G., Skilbeck, C.G., Aiello, I.W., Cypionka, H., Guèrin, G., House, C., Inagaki, F., Meister, P., Naehr, T., Niitsuma, S., Parkes, R.J., Schippers, A., Smith, D.C., Teske, A., Wiegel, J., Padilla, C.N., Acosta, J.U.L.S., Wang, G., Rutherford, S.D., 2004, Distributions of metabolic activities in deep subseafloor sediments. Science 306 (5705), 2216-2221. (Online access). Marsaglia, K.M., Fukosawa, H., Cornell, W., Skilbeck, C.G., Meyers, P. and Prasad, M., 2004, Eustatic signals in deep-marine sedimentary sequences recovered at ODP Site 978, Alboran Basin, western Mediterranean Sea. Journal of Sedimentary Research 74, 378-390. 2003 Ford, K.R., Naehr, T. and Skilbeck, C.G., 2003, The use of infrared thermal imaging to identify gas hydrate in sediment cores. In D'Hondt, S, and Jorgensen, B.B. et al. (eds), Leg 201 Eastern Equatorial Pacific and Peru margin Deep Biosphere. Proceedings of the Ocean Drilling Program; Initial Reports. National Science Foundation and Joint Oceanographic Institutions 201, 1-20. 1999 Skilbeck, C.G. and Tribble, J.S., 1999, Description, classification and origin of Late Pliocene-Recent marine sediments in the Alboran Basin, western Mediterranean Sea. In Zahn, R., Comas, M.C. and Klaus, A. Scientific Results of ODP Leg 161, pp.83-98. 1998 Lee, G.S.H., Mar, G.L., Rose, H.R., Marshall, C.P., Young, B.R., Skilbeck, C.G. and Wilson, M.A., 1998, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of conodonts. Organic Geochemistry 28, 759-765. 1996 Comas, M.C., Zahn, R., Klaus, A., Auburg, C., Bernasconi, S., Belanger, P., Cornell, W., de Kaenel, E., de Larouziere, F., Doose, H., Hobart, M., Iaccarino, S., Ippach, P., Marsaglia, K., Myers, P., Murat, A., O'Sullivan, G., Platt, J.P., Prassard, M., Siesser, W., Skilbeck, C.G., Soto, J.I., Tandon, K., Torii, M., Tribble, J.S. and Wilkens, R. 1996, Las perforaciones del ODP-Leg 161en el Mediterraneo Occidental. Geogaceta 20(2), 408-411. McDonald, S.J. and Skilbeck, C.G., 1996, Authigenic fluid inclusions in lithic sandstone: a case study from the Permo-Triassic Gunnedah Basin, New South Wales. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences 43/2, 217-228. Platt, J.P, Soto, J.I, Comas, M.C., Zahn, R., Klaus, A., Auburg, C., Bernasconi, S., Belanger, P., Cornell, W., de Kaenel, E., de Larouziere, F., Doose, H., Hobart, M., Iaccarino, S., Ippach, P., Marsaglia, K., Myers, P., Murat, A., O'Sullivan, G., Prassard, M., Siesser, W., Skilbeck, C.G., Tandon, K., Torii, M., Tribble, J.S. and Wilkens, R. 1996, Decompression and high-temperature - low pressure metamorphism in the exhumed floor of an extensional basin, Alboran Sea, western Mediterranean. Geotimes 24(5), 447-450. Zahn, R., Comas, M., Robertson, A., + (Skilbeck, C.G. with others), 1996, Drilling probes Mediterranean Climate and Oceanography. Eos 77/3, 19-21. Conference Proceedings, Abstracts and Presentations * - paper also presented at conference by C.G. Skilbeck 2004 *Skilbeck, C.G., Gagan, M., Goodwin, I., Watson, I., and Fink, D., 2004, Century-to-decade scale modulation of ENSO recorded by postglacial laminated sediments from the Peru continental margin. (UNESCO International Conference on Isotopes in Environmental Studies - Aquatic Forum, 25 - 29 October 2004, Monte-Carlo, Monaco). IAEA-CN-118, 20. (Download pdf file) Flett, I, Heijnis, H., Harle, K. and Skilbeck, C.G. 2004, Australia Myall Lakes – Isotope Dating of Short Term Environmental Changes in a Coastal Lake System - Anthropogenic Pressures causing Blue-Green Algae Outbreaks in a National Park. (UNESCO International Conference on Isotopes in Environmental Studies - Aquatic Forum, 25 - 29 October 2004, Monte-Carlo, Monaco). IAEA-CN-118, 86. Skilbeck, C.G, Goodwin, I, Gagan, M., Watson, M., and Aiello, I. 2004; High resolution palaeo-El Nino records from the Peru continental margin. 32nd International Geological Congress, Florence, It, Abstracts Volume Part 2, p.1033. (Download pdf file). Skilbeck, C.G, Rolph, T.R., Watson, M., Goodwin, I. 2004; Correlation of palaeo-El Nino records across the Pacific Ocean from LGM to present. In, McPhie, J. and McGoldrick, P. (Eds), Dynamic Earth: Past, Present and Future. Geological Society of Australia Abstracts 73, p. 214. (ISSN0729-011X) (Download pdf file). 2003 Watson, M., Skilbeck, G. and Goodwin, I., 2003, The Holocene-LGM sedimentary record of Peru-Chile (Humbolt) current variability on the Peru continental margin, and implications for El Nino activity over the past 20,000 yBP. In Heap, A. (ed.) COGS 2003, Abstracts from the 6th Australian Marine Geoscience Conference, ANU, July 2003. p.51. Flett, I., Heijnis, H., Harle, K., and Skilbeck, G., 2003, Assessing microfloral population variation in Late Holocene estuarine sediments: to bloom or not to bloom. In Heap, A. (ed.) COGS 2003, Abstracts from the 6th Australian Marine Geoscience Conference, ANU, July 2003. p.29. (Download pdf file). Skilbeck, C.G, 2003, El Nino correlations across the Pacific Ocean: short and long term variation. In Fink, D. (ed.), Cosmogenic archives in the southern hemisphere. Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Workshop May 8-9, 2003. p.8. (Download pdf file). Flett, I., Heijnis, H., Harle, K., and Skilbeck, G., 2003, The History of Algal Blooms in the Myall Lakes, NSW. In Marra, M. (ed) Australasian Quaternary Association Biennial Conference, Westport NZ. Victoria University of Wellington. 2001 Skilbeck, C.G, Rolph, T.C. and Wilkens, R.H., 2001, Millennial/Centennial-Scale Multi-Proxy Cyclicity in Eastern Australian Estuary Sediments. In Shennen, I and Horton, B. (eds), Neotectonics and sea level changes. Abstracts with Programs, Third annual meeting of IGCP Project 437, Coastal Environmental Change during Highstands. University of Durham, September 2001. 2000* *Skilbeck, C.G., Dick, F. and Frankel, E., 2000, Time correlation of magnetic susceptibility data from Myall Lakes and the record of sediment and climate cyclicity. In Skilbeck, C.G. and Hubble, T.C.T. (eds). Understanding Planet Earth: Searching for a Sustainable Future. Abstracts of the 15th Geological Convention, University of Technology Sydney, July 2000. p. 460. Ward, C.R. and Skilbeck, C.G., 2000, Inter-university cooperation in geological education: The SUCOGG Experience. In Buck, M. and Lewis, G. (editors), 3rd International conference on geoscience education. Australian Geological Survey Record 1999/49, pp145-147. 1999 Skilbeck, C.G, Frankel, E. Cramp, A., Purser, P. and Tribble, J.S., 1999, A record of coastal change preserved in high-stand littoral lakes from s stable passive margin (central eastern coast of Australia). In Fletcher, C. and Matthews, J.V. (eds), The non-steady state of the inner shelf and shoreline: coastal change on the scale of decades to millennia. Abstracts with Programs, Inaugural meeting of IGCP Project 437, Coastal Environmental Change during Highstands. University of Hawaii, November 1999. pp195-202. (Online access). Tribble, J.S., Garrison, G.H., Athens, J.S., Allen, C.B., Skilbeck, C.G.* and Frankel, E., 1999, Evidence for Early-Mid Holocene sealevel on O'ahu, Hawaii, from coastal pond sediments. In, Fletcher, C.H. and Matthews, J.V. (Editors), The non-steady state of the inner shelf and shoreline: coastal change on the time scale of decades to millennia in the Late Quaternary. Abstracts with programs, Inaugural Meeting of IGCP Project 437 “Coastal environmental change during sea level highstands", University of Hawaii, Honolulu, November 1999. pp.215-218. (Online access). 1998 Tribble, J.S., Athens, J.S., Allen, C.B., Frankel, E. and Skilbeck, C.G., 1998, A high-resolution sedimentary record of O'ahu Holocene history. (Geological Society of America Abstracts, Toronto, 1998 ISSN 0016-7592.) *Skilbeck, C.G., Frankel, E., Cramp, A. and Tribble, J.S., 1998, The Holocene-Pleistocene sedimentary record of Myall Lakes, New South Wales. Abstracts 14th Australian Geological Convention, Townsville, July. No 42, p. 413. 1997 Kozyrev, N. and Skilbeck, C.G., 1997, Origin of CO2 in the coal seams of the northern Sydney Basin. In, Boyd, R.L. and Allan, K. (ed.), Advances in the Study of the Sydney Basin. 31st Newcastle Symposium, April, 1997, pp.57-64. 1996 * Skilbeck, C.G., Soto, J-I. and Platt, J.P., 1996, Continental basement of the Alboran Basin (western Mediterranean Sea): Composition and tectonic implications. Abstracts 13th Australian Geological Convention, Canberra, February. No 41, p. 404. * Skilbeck, C.G., and Leitch, E.C., 1996, Transgressive depositional cycles in the Tamworth Belt: the sedimentological signature of extensional forearc basins. Abstracts 13th Australian Geological Convention, Canberra, February. No 41, p. 405. * Skilbeck, C.G., Anast, M. and Tribble, J.S., 1996, Spatial and grain-fraction distribution of Plio-Pleistocene terrigenous clastic sediments in the Alboran Sea. ODP Leg 161 Post Cruise Conference, Mojacar, Spain, July. (Poster). * Skilbeck, C.G., 1996, A Perspective on the NSW Year 7-10 Science Curriculum: Submission by the Geological Society of Australia. In Hafner, R. and Grant, G. (convenors). Science Years 7-10. Proceedings of the Board of Studies (NSW) Symposium, Sydney, May. Tribble, J. and Skilbeck, C.G., 1996, Bulk mineralogy of ODP Leg 161 Sites 974, 975, 976, 977, 978 and 979, as determined by x-ray diffraction. ODP Leg 161 Post Cruise Conference, Mojacar, Spain, July. (Poster). 1995 Sharp, T.R., Leitch, E.C. and Skilbeck, C.G., 1995, The northeastern margin of the Sydney Basin in the early Permian: a palaeogeographic conundrum. In, Boyd, R. (ed.), Advances in the Study of the Sydney Basin. 29th Newcastle Symposium, April, 1995, pp.229-234. * Skilbeck, C.G., Cornell, W., Fukusawa, H., Ippach, P. Marsaglia, K. Murat, A., and Tribble, J.S. 1995. Patterns of cyclic sedimentation in the Alboran Basin (western Mediterranean Sea): Correlation and relationship to sedimentation rate. EOS, Transactions of the American Geophysical Union 76, F624. Tribble, J., Marsaglia, K., Cornell, W., Skilbeck, C.G., Fukusawa, H. Murat, A., and Tribble, J., 1995. Messinian and Early Pliocene sediments of the western Mediterranean Sea: transition from an evaporative environment to open marine conditions. EOS, Transactions of the American Geophysical Union 76, F624. ² Full authorship of Leg 201 ODP chapters: "D'Hondt, S.L., Jørgensen, B.B., Miller, J., Aiello, I.W., Bekins, B.A., Blake, R., Cragg, B.A., Cypionka, H., Dickens, G.R., Ferdelman, T., Ford, K., Gettemy, G.L., Guerin, G., Hinrichs, K-U, Holm, N., House, C., Inangaki, F., Meister, P., Mitterer, R.M., Naehr, T., Niitsuma, S., Parkes, R.J., Schippers, A., Skilbeck, C.G., Smith, D.C., Spivack, A.J., Teske, A., Wiegel, J."