Overview
Background
BSc.Hons. (HKU), MPhil. (HKU), PhD (NUS)
Dr Annie Lau is a coastal geomorphologist with a primary research interest in analysing past occurrences of coastal hazards, in particular extreme waves generated by storms and tsunamis, through sedimentary, geomorphological and historical records for assessing the future threat in coastal areas. For example, she has specialised in using the characteristics of large coastal boulders (e.g. size and distribution of rocks) to estimate the strength of extreme waves and to reconstruct the history of extreme events in the past millennia at a few tropical islands in the Asia-Pacific area. More recently, Annie investigates coastline evolution of the sandy Central to Southern Queensland coasts in the late Quaternary - Holocene by analysing sediments and using OSL quartz dating.
Annie teaches a range of courses in Geography, Marine Science, and Geoscience disciplines. She is interested in all types of natural hazards and disaster management, some research areas that she's expanding into since acquiring in-depth knowledge through leading the "Environmental Hazards" course. Students who are interested in researching hazard topics are encouraged to discuss their research ideas with Annie.
She is a project leader of the following research networks:
IGCP Project 725 - Forecasting Coastal Change: "From Cores to Code: Bringing together scientists from coastal geology and numerical modelling to improve the predictive capacity of numerical models to fore- and hind-cast coastal change"
ISROC - Inundation Signatures on Rocky Coastlines: This network serves as a focal point for researchers, educators, and students to understand Coastal Boulder Deposits (CBD) and the storms and tsunamis that generate them.
Availability
- Dr Annie Lau is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, National University of Singapore
Research interests
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Natural hazards
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Coastal geomorphology
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Quaternary environments
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Sedimentology
Works
Search Professor Annie Lau’s works on UQ eSpace
2024
Journal Article
Improving tsunami hazard assessment in central-north Chile using forward (TELEMAC) and inverse (TSUFLIND) models for the 2015 Illapel tsunami
León, Tomás, Wuppukondur, Ananth, Easton, Gabriel, Tang, Hui and Lau, Annie (2024). Improving tsunami hazard assessment in central-north Chile using forward (TELEMAC) and inverse (TSUFLIND) models for the 2015 Illapel tsunami. Applied Ocean Research, 150 104101, 104101. doi: 10.1016/j.apor.2024.104101
2024
Journal Article
Holocene geomorphological evolution of a sediment-starved coastal embayment in response to sea level change: Insights from the Qing'ao Embayment, southern China
Yu, Fengling, Switzer, Adam D., Zheng, Zhuo, Chen, Bishan, Pile, Jeremy, Jol, Harry, Huang, Zhaoquan and Lau, Annie (2024). Holocene geomorphological evolution of a sediment-starved coastal embayment in response to sea level change: Insights from the Qing'ao Embayment, southern China. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 633 111895, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.palaeo.2023.111895
2023
Conference Publication
Unearthed burial from rising sea levels: a collaborative community approach for tackling climate change in the Torres Strait Islands, Australia
Lowe, Kelsey, Tom, Enid, Westaway, Michael C., Swift, Jaime and Lau, Annie (2023). Unearthed burial from rising sea levels: a collaborative community approach for tackling climate change in the Torres Strait Islands, Australia. Society of American Archaeologists, Portland, OR United States, 30 March - 1 April 2023.
2023
Conference Publication
From cores to code: enhancing data-model integration to improve forecasts of coastal change – an introduction to IGCP Project 725
Hein, Christopher J., Pilarczyk, Jessica E., Brain, Matthew, Green, Andrew N., Annie Lau, A. Y. and Ramos, Noelynna (2023). From cores to code: enhancing data-model integration to improve forecasts of coastal change – an introduction to IGCP Project 725. Coastal Sediments 2023 (CS23), New Orleans, LA USA, 11-15 April 2023. Hackensack, NJ USA: World Scientific Publishing. doi: 10.1142/9789811275135_0215
2023
Journal Article
A comprehensive review of tsunami and palaeotsunami research in Chile
León, Tomás, Lau, A. Y. Annie, Easton, Gabriel and Goff, James (2023). A comprehensive review of tsunami and palaeotsunami research in Chile. Earth-Science Reviews, 236 104273, 1-25. doi: 10.1016/j.earscirev.2022.104273
2023
Journal Article
Foreword: Remembering Professor David Scott’s contribution to the IGCP community
Pilarczyk, Jessica E., Hawkes, Andrea D., Brain, Matthew J., Green, Andrew N., Hein, Christopher J., Lau, A.Y. Annie and Ramos, Noelynna (2023). Foreword: Remembering Professor David Scott’s contribution to the IGCP community. Journal of Foraminiferal Research, 53 (1), 1-2. doi: 10.2113/gsjfr.53.1.1
2022
Other Outputs
Binna Burra Trails Mapping Project
Vrinda Eswaran, Philip Gidley, Annie Lau and Iraphne Childs (2022). Binna Burra Trails Mapping Project. Brisbane, Australia: Royal Geographical Society of Queensland.
2021
Journal Article
Clustered, stacked and imbricated large coastal rock clasts on Ludao Island, southeast Taiwan, and their application to palaeotyphoon intensity assessment
Terry, James P., Lau, A.Y. Annie, Nguyen, Kim Anh, Liou, Yuei-An and Switzer, Adam D. (2021). Clustered, stacked and imbricated large coastal rock clasts on Ludao Island, southeast Taiwan, and their application to palaeotyphoon intensity assessment. Frontiers in Earth Science, 9 792369. doi: 10.3389/feart.2021.792369
2021
Journal Article
How do post-disaster policies influence household-level recovery? A case study of the 2010-11 Canterbury earthquake sequence, New Zealand
He, Lulu, Dominey-Howes, Dale, Aitchison, Jonathan C., Lau, Annie and Conradson, David (2021). How do post-disaster policies influence household-level recovery? A case study of the 2010-11 Canterbury earthquake sequence, New Zealand. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 60 102274, 102274. doi: 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2021.102274
2021
Journal Article
Giant palaeotsunami in Kiribati: converging evidence from geology and oral history
Terry, James P., Karoro, Robert, Gienko, Gennady A., Wieczorek, Marta and Lau, A. Y. Annie (2021). Giant palaeotsunami in Kiribati: converging evidence from geology and oral history. Island Arc, 30 (1) e12417, 1-18. doi: 10.1111/iar.12417
2020
Book Chapter
Spatial patterns of subaerial coarse clasts
Lau, A.Y. Annie and Autret, Ronan (2020). Spatial patterns of subaerial coarse clasts. Geological Records of Tsunamis and Other Extreme Waves. (pp. 513-546) edited by Max Engel, Jessica Pilarczyk, Simon Matthias May, Dominik Brill and Ed Garrett. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/b978-0-12-815686-5.00024-9
2019
Journal Article
Episodic reef growth in the northern South China Sea linked to warm climate during the past 7000 years: potential for future coral refugia
Yan, Shuang, Zhao, Jian‐xin, Lau, A.Y. Annie, Roff, George, Leonard, Nicole D., Clark, Tara R., Nguyen, Ai D., Feng, Yue‐xing, Wei, Gangjian, Deng, Wenfeng and Chen, Xuefei (2019). Episodic reef growth in the northern South China Sea linked to warm climate during the past 7000 years: potential for future coral refugia. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences, 124 (4) 2018JG004939, 1032-1043. doi: 10.1029/2018jg004939
2018
Journal Article
Boulder emplacement and remobilisation by cyclone and submarine landslide tsunami waves near Suva City, Fiji
Lau, A. Y. Annie, Terry, James P., Ziegler, Alan, Pratap, Arti and Harris, Daniel (2018). Boulder emplacement and remobilisation by cyclone and submarine landslide tsunami waves near Suva City, Fiji. Sedimentary Geology, 364, 242-257. doi: 10.1016/j.sedgeo.2017.12.017
2018
Journal Article
Surf beat-induced overwash during Typhoon Haiyan deposited two distinct sediment assemblages on the carbonate coast of Hernani, Samar, central Philippines
Soria, Janneli Lea A., Switzer, Adam D., Pilarczyk, Jessica E., Tang, Hui, Weiss, Robert, Siringan, Fernando, Manglicmot, Michelle, Gallentes, Adonis, Lau, A.Y. Annie, Cheong, Amanda Yee Lin and Koh, Tracy Wei Ling (2018). Surf beat-induced overwash during Typhoon Haiyan deposited two distinct sediment assemblages on the carbonate coast of Hernani, Samar, central Philippines. Marine Geology, 396, 215-230. doi: 10.1016/j.margeo.2017.08.016
2018
Journal Article
Magnitudes of nearshore waves generated by tropical cyclone Winston, the strongest landfalling cyclone in South Pacific records. Unprecedented or unremarkable?
Terry, J. P. and Lau, A. Y. A. (2018). Magnitudes of nearshore waves generated by tropical cyclone Winston, the strongest landfalling cyclone in South Pacific records. Unprecedented or unremarkable?. Sedimentary Geology, 364, 276-285. doi: 10.1016/j.sedgeo.2017.10.009
2016
Journal Article
Incorporating “virtual” and “real world” field trips into introductory geography modules
Friess, Daniel A., Oliver, Grahame J. H., Quak, Michelle S. Y. and Lau, Annie Y. A. (2016). Incorporating “virtual” and “real world” field trips into introductory geography modules. Journal of Geography in Higher Education, 40 (4), 546-564. doi: 10.1080/03098265.2016.1174818
2016
Journal Article
Understanding the history of extreme wave events in the Tuamotu Archipelago of French Polynesia from large carbonate boulders on Makemo Atoll, with implications for future threats in the central South Pacific
Lau, A. Y. Annie, Terry, James P., Ziegler, Alan D., Switzer, Adam D., Lee, Yingsin and Etienne, Samuel (2016). Understanding the history of extreme wave events in the Tuamotu Archipelago of French Polynesia from large carbonate boulders on Makemo Atoll, with implications for future threats in the central South Pacific. Marine Geology, 380, 174-190. doi: 10.1016/j.margeo.2016.04.018
2015
Journal Article
A historical typhoon database for the southern and eastern Chinese coastal regions, 1951 to 2012
Yap, Wenshu, Lee, Yingsin, Gouramanis, Chris, Switzer, Adam D., Yu, Fengling, Lau, An Yi Annie and Terry, James P. (2015). A historical typhoon database for the southern and eastern Chinese coastal regions, 1951 to 2012. Ocean and Coastal Management, 108, 109-115. doi: 10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2014.05.024
2015
Journal Article
Advantages of beachrock slabs for interpreting high-energy wave transport: Evidence from Ludao Island in south-eastern Taiwan
Lau, A Y Annie, Terry, James P, Switzer, Adam D and Pile, Jeremy (2015). Advantages of beachrock slabs for interpreting high-energy wave transport: Evidence from Ludao Island in south-eastern Taiwan. Geomorphology, 228, 263-274. doi: 10.1016/j.geomorph.2014.09.010
2015
Journal Article
Establishing the impacts of freshwater aquaculture in tropical Asia: the potential role of palaeolimnology
Legaspi, Kenoses, Lau, A. Y. Annie, Jordan, Phil, Mackay, Anson, Mcgowan, Suzanne, Mcglynn, Gayle, Baldia, Susana, Donne Papa, Rey and Taylor, David (2015). Establishing the impacts of freshwater aquaculture in tropical Asia: the potential role of palaeolimnology. Geo: Geography and Environment, 2 (2), 148-163. doi: 10.1002/geo2.13
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Annie Lau is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
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Geological records of coastal storms in Southern Queensland
With increasing population and development on the southern Queensland coast, accurate coastal hazard (e.g. cyclone, tsunami) risk assessment is essential for protecting people’s lives and properties, however this is currently hampered by short duration and spatially limited historical records. This study aims to determine long-term (millennial scale) records and to identify the maximum magnitude of cyclones (and possibly tsunami) from the landscape and the sedimentary record in southern Queensland. This will expand the coastal hazard event dataset, thereby improving risk assessment and guiding management strategies.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Understanding tsunami sources and frequency in northern Tonga
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Chris Roelfsema
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Doctor Philosophy
Physical-chemical drivers of phytoplankton community dynamics in Moreton Bay Estuary: Implications for water quality management
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ron Johnstone, Professor Yongping Wei
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Doctor Philosophy
An analysis and characterization of coastal landslide occurrence and hazard and assessment of its potential impact in southeastern Queensland
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Lutz Gross
Completed supervision
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Annie Lau directly for media enquiries about:
- China
- Coastal impacts
- Cyclone
- Fiji
- Flood
- Hazards in East Asia
- Hazards in Pacific
- Hong Kong
- Landscape changes
- Natural hazards
- Storm impacts
- Tsunami
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