b'PeopleNewssubsequently been developed with itsto include an Australian Tsunami Warningas the communication systems, were first gold production in 2019. System (ATWS), because it was realisedtruly independent to ensure 24/7 Barry concluded his term as ANSIRAustralia had been impacted by tsunamirobustness of the ATWS. Barry was also Director in 2003, and Brian Kennett tookin the past, including the tsunami inresponsible for delivering the science over as Director. At this time Barry was2004, but Australia had no warningthat underpins the development of managing GAs airborne geophysicssystem. sustainable communities and informs programme, its gravity programme,A warning system is different from athe preparation, response and recovery its national geological maps project, awarning centre. A warning centres jobphases of warning systems in Australia programme looking at new innovationsis to identify earthquakes that can causeand the Australian region.in geophysics and how they might betsunami, look at data from sensors inWhile Barry was developing the GA applied in the minerals industry, and thethe ocean to see if a tsunami has beencomponent of the ATWS he also had development of GAs national geologicalgenerated, and issue a warning tooversight of the national geodetic databases. communities that might be exposed toprogramme, the national geomagnetic These were all exciting projects,the tsunami. A tsunami warning systemprogramme, a major part of Australias and all linked in ways that wouldincludes not only a warning centre butnuclear monitoring programme, a project ultimately allow for the developmentalso undertakes the work needed tostrengthening Papua New Guineas of new Australia-wide geological andunderpin advice to communities on howvolcanic monitoring program, and he geophysical maps that could be usedto respond should warnings be issued,was responsible for upgrading Australias for a wide range of applications. Mineraland develops and practises evacuationearthquake risk map. Each of these and petroleum exploration are obviousplans. Warning systems also incorporatewere all very interesting and important examples, but there are many others.the recovery phases after a tsunami hasactivities that included international A visiting ecologist once asked why GAoccurred. dimensions.had a map of the distribution of variousBarry was tasked with leading theBarry realised that the national geodetic ecologies in north Queensland wheredevelopment of the GA part of theprogramme was immensely important he was undertaking research. This waswarning system. GAs responsibility wasbut was extremely under-resourced. a geological map that demonstratedtwo-fold. One was to develop the part ofThis programme had arrived when that geology controlled soil type andthe warning centre that would identifyAusLIG and AGSO were merged to form landform and that they, in turn, wereearthquakes with the potential to causeGA. The nation needed to modernise influencing the distribution and types oftsunamis that would impact Australia andits geodetic programme and develop natural habitats. Australian interests overseas. In effect,national geospatial reference systems. During this time GA completed the first- because Australians are great travellers,These are the coordinate systems we pass airborne magnetic map of Australia.this meant that it had to be able to detectuse to measure where we are, and the It had taken 40 years. It has proven toany earthquake over a magnitude 6.5mathematical tools that we use to link be a very valuable map for a numbernear a coastline anywhere in the world.the measurement to a location. Such of reasons, and shows the importanceGA would then advise the Bureau ofsystems underpin a great deal of the of the work of geological surveys thatMeteorology and the Attorney Generalsnations economic activity, and are have the resources, charter and tenacityDepartment, and these agencies wouldfundamental in the operation of global to continue very long-term scientificuse the communication networks alreadysatellite navigation systems. Additionally, programmes. Understanding this wasin place for weather and other warningsthe Australian continent is moving north important for Barry, as later in his careerto issue tsunami warnings. by around 7 cm each year and the system he was given oversight of the nationalGA was given four years to achieve thisneeds to account for this movement to geodetic programme. task, with progress reports delivered tomaintain accurate positioning over time.As with many things in the course of athe Prime Ministers Department everyDuring Barrys tenure GA was able to career, events occur which alter onesthree months, and summary reportsaccess large amounts of infrastructure direction, often in a very dramatic way.made available to Federal Cabinet.money to upgrade the geodetic The earthquake that occurred in theGAs part of the warning centre wasmeasuring systems in the country, and sea off Aceh Province in Indonesia onoperational after two years using datathe geodetic team was able to improve December 26, 2004, and generatedfrom the existing seismograph stationsthe accuracy of the reference system a tsunami that claimed over 230 000that were part of the Australian Nationalby an order of magnitude. In another lives, marked another major turningSeismograph Network, and datafew decades they are likely to be able to point in Barrys career. Prime Ministertelemetered from overseas stations. Atmake better estimates of the 7 cm drift Howard stated within days of the disasterthe same time the Australian Nationalby allowing for the internal deformation that Australia would contribute to theSeismograph Network was systematicallyof the continent. This is long term science development of an Indian Ocean Tsunamiupgraded and was fully operationalisedthat has to have a well-founded business Warning System. Funding was allocatedon schedule in four years. case, and a hosting agency that has the in the Federal budget in May 2005, afterOperationalised meant theresolve to continue with a task that might a lot of lead up work by teams of peoplesystem could not fail. This requiredspan the careers of several generations.at GA, the Bureau of Meteorology, andredundant seismograph stations,After retiring from GA in 2011 Barry Emergency Management Australia.data communication systems andconsulted on seismicity induced by By then the focus of the Australiancomputer systems to mitigate againsthydro-fracturing such as used in the Government had broadened from theall types of failures. This also requireddevelopment of coal seam gas, shale Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning Systemensuring the various systems, suchgas and oil and enhanced geothermal 15 PREVIEW DECEMBER 2019'