Doctor
Christopher WatsonProfile page
SL in Spatial Information Sci
Geography, Planning, and Spatial Sciences
Orcid identifier0000-0002-7464-4592
- SL in Spatial Information SciGeography, Planning, and Spatial Sciences
- +61 3 6226 2489 (Work)
- School of Geography, Planning, and Spatial Sciences, Geography, Planning and Spatial Sciences, 425 Centenary, Sandy Bay Campus, TAS
BIO
Humans have been on a quest to understand our planet through the ages. How is the planet changing? What is causing the change? What do those changes mean for us? In the late twentieth century we launched precision satellites. These satellites have provided the greatest insight into those questions ever gained... and incrementally we've been piecing together the puzzle.
Dr Christopher Watson is one of the scientists helping to inform our understanding of the earth system. He is a geodesist, an expert in a field that studies the changing size, shape and gravity field of Earth.
'The Earth system is fascinating – all parts of the system are constantly in motion; mountains are still being formed, continents are being reshaped, and the oceans are transporting heat all over the globe.'
'The sheer magnitude of water exchange between the oceans, atmosphere, continents and cryosphere– ice and snow–is incredible; the response of this system to ongoing warming is particularly fascinating.'
Dr Watson's research is focused on understanding sea levels and improving the accuracy of space geodesy techniques.
'Space geodesy involves the use of satellite data to monitor changes at the earth's surface. My focus is sea level and tracking its change over time.'
Sea level change is an issue of global significance. Dr. Watson, along with other University of Tasmania and Hobart based scientists, has used space geodetic data to produce a refined sea level record over the satellite era, which spans the last ~30 years.
'We know without doubt that sea levels are rising. We're now getting a sense that sea level is accelerating over the satellite period. We're eagerly awaiting more data to see how this is expressed.'
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) projections of sea level forecast a rise of between 28-98 cm by 2100, depending on greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gas emissions are significant because they influence the amount of heat in the Earth system.
Understanding the rate and extent of sea level rise is important for society as a whole, and specifically for policy makers.
'There will be a broad spectrum of impacts across the coastal zone. In Australia, it is estimated that around $226 billion of infrastructure lies within reach of the upper bound of sea level rise forecast by 2100. Current 'once in a lifetime' coastal flood events will occur much more often. Coastal ecosystems will need to adapt, and in some regions, populations will be displaced. I want to contribute to understanding the data we have, so we can plan ahead.'
Sea level rise estimates derived by Dr Watson and his colleagues can be compared with other observations that measure the different contributions to the overall sea level change signal.
'Understanding for example the contributions from the Earth's ice sheets is really important – the collaborations available here in Hobart on this topic are really exciting.
'It is now clear that as a society on this planet, we have tweaked one of the controlling inputs into the earth system–heat. This has given the system a kick and the different components of the system are responding.
'There are many unanswered questions in this field and we need answers to best underpin mitigation and adaptation strategies'
One goal is to determine the regional impact of sea level rise. The rise won't be consistent across the globe. Some places will experience more sea level rise than others. Different coastal landforms will respond in very different ways.
'I enjoy trying to provide the most accurate data possible to allow us to make intelligent and informed decisions. For society to respond to the challenge ahead, we need to be informed about what we're facing.'
Dr Christopher Watson is fascinated by understanding the changing Earth, and in particular, the response of sea level to a warming climate using satellite based sensors. He is a Senior Lecturer for Geography, Planning, and Spatial Sciences in the College of Sciences and Engineering.
Biography:
Following the completion of his doctorate in 2005, Christopher joined the University of Tasmania to take up a role including teaching into the Surveying and Spatial Sciences programs, and research across the field of space geodesy and sea level change. In 2008, he was chosen as a Visiting Research Fellow at Newcastle University (UK) to further his research into space geodetic estimates of land motion with UK collaborators.
The University of Tasmania is at the forefront of marine and Antarctic research, with the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere and the Australian Antarctic Division all located in Hobart, providing the ideal environment to pursue research interests that seek to further understand the dynamic Earth.
Dr Christopher Watson is one of the scientists helping to inform our understanding of the earth system. He is a geodesist, an expert in a field that studies the changing size, shape and gravity field of Earth.
'The Earth system is fascinating – all parts of the system are constantly in motion; mountains are still being formed, continents are being reshaped, and the oceans are transporting heat all over the globe.'
'The sheer magnitude of water exchange between the oceans, atmosphere, continents and cryosphere– ice and snow–is incredible; the response of this system to ongoing warming is particularly fascinating.'
Dr Watson's research is focused on understanding sea levels and improving the accuracy of space geodesy techniques.
'Space geodesy involves the use of satellite data to monitor changes at the earth's surface. My focus is sea level and tracking its change over time.'
Sea level change is an issue of global significance. Dr. Watson, along with other University of Tasmania and Hobart based scientists, has used space geodetic data to produce a refined sea level record over the satellite era, which spans the last ~30 years.
'We know without doubt that sea levels are rising. We're now getting a sense that sea level is accelerating over the satellite period. We're eagerly awaiting more data to see how this is expressed.'
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) projections of sea level forecast a rise of between 28-98 cm by 2100, depending on greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gas emissions are significant because they influence the amount of heat in the Earth system.
Understanding the rate and extent of sea level rise is important for society as a whole, and specifically for policy makers.
'There will be a broad spectrum of impacts across the coastal zone. In Australia, it is estimated that around $226 billion of infrastructure lies within reach of the upper bound of sea level rise forecast by 2100. Current 'once in a lifetime' coastal flood events will occur much more often. Coastal ecosystems will need to adapt, and in some regions, populations will be displaced. I want to contribute to understanding the data we have, so we can plan ahead.'
Sea level rise estimates derived by Dr Watson and his colleagues can be compared with other observations that measure the different contributions to the overall sea level change signal.
'Understanding for example the contributions from the Earth's ice sheets is really important – the collaborations available here in Hobart on this topic are really exciting.
'It is now clear that as a society on this planet, we have tweaked one of the controlling inputs into the earth system–heat. This has given the system a kick and the different components of the system are responding.
'There are many unanswered questions in this field and we need answers to best underpin mitigation and adaptation strategies'
One goal is to determine the regional impact of sea level rise. The rise won't be consistent across the globe. Some places will experience more sea level rise than others. Different coastal landforms will respond in very different ways.
'I enjoy trying to provide the most accurate data possible to allow us to make intelligent and informed decisions. For society to respond to the challenge ahead, we need to be informed about what we're facing.'
Dr Christopher Watson is fascinated by understanding the changing Earth, and in particular, the response of sea level to a warming climate using satellite based sensors. He is a Senior Lecturer for Geography, Planning, and Spatial Sciences in the College of Sciences and Engineering.
Biography:
Following the completion of his doctorate in 2005, Christopher joined the University of Tasmania to take up a role including teaching into the Surveying and Spatial Sciences programs, and research across the field of space geodesy and sea level change. In 2008, he was chosen as a Visiting Research Fellow at Newcastle University (UK) to further his research into space geodetic estimates of land motion with UK collaborators.
The University of Tasmania is at the forefront of marine and Antarctic research, with the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere and the Australian Antarctic Division all located in Hobart, providing the ideal environment to pursue research interests that seek to further understand the dynamic Earth.
DEGREES
- PhD (Geodesy)University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia2005
- BSurv (1st class Hons)University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia1999
SCHOOL AND PORTFOLIO
- School of Geography, Planning, and Spatial Sciences