Professor Helen Bostock
Professor

Helen Bostock

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 56082

Background

My research focuses on oceanography and paleoceanography of the oceans around Australia. I use stable isotopes (oxygen, carbon), geochemical tracers, sedimentology and microfossils to understand the present and past changes in ocean chemistry to reconstruct ocean circulation (changes in ocean currents and fronts) and its relationship to global climate. I am particularly interested in understanding past changes in the Great Barrier Reef, and at the other extreme past changes in processe at the Antarctic Margin. I am also interested in mapping marine sediment distribution, sediment transport processes, marine geomorphology, marine microplastic pollution, and multidisciplinary topics such as ocean acidification (the uptake of CO2 by the oceans) and blue carbon and climate change in the oceans (marine heat waves, sea level rise). I have participated in a number of research voyages on open ocean vessels including the RV Tangaroa and RV Investigator, including several as lead or co-lead scientist. I am involved in the Australian-New Zealand International Ocean Discovery Program.

Prior to joining the University of Queensland in July 2019 I previously worked in government research institutes including Geoscience Australia (2004-2006) and the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research in New Zealand (2006-2019; now renamed as Earth Sciences New Zealand).

Availability

Professor Helen Bostock is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Chemical oceanography Earth Sciences Oceanography

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Australian National University

Research interests

  • Past changes in the Southern Ocean

    I am interested in past changes in ocean circulation in the Southern Ocean over glacial/interglacial timescales (1000s-100,000s years). I use proxy evidence from sedimentary characteristics, microfossil assemblages, stable isotopes (carbon, oxygen, nitrogen and boron), elemental variations from a latitudinal transect of marine sediment cores from the subtropical waters of the southwest Pacific to the continental margin of Antarctica. I try to reconstruct changes in temperature, biological productivity, changes in water masses, ocean currents and fronts, sea ice, ice sheet retreat, and how all these different processes are linked to global climate.

  • Geological history of the Great Barrier Reef

    I am interested in the initiation and development of the Great Barrier Reef using proxies (sedimentology, microfossil assemblages, stable isotopes, geochemistry) from marine sediment cores offshore. The aim is to understand the timing of the reef development, but also to understand the broader regional ocean circulation of the Coral Sea over glacial/interglacial timescales (1000s-100,000s-1,000,000 years).

  • The carbon cycle in the ocean and ocean acidification

    I look at the geochemistry of the water column, primarily the carbonate chemistry and carbon isotopes, to understand changes in the ocean carbon cycle over recent decades due to the uptake of anthropogenic CO2 from the atmosphere. This results in a decline in the pH in the ocean, a process known as ocean acidification. I also work with collaborators using Boron isotopes of microfossils in marine sediment cores to understand how pH and carbonate concentrations have changed over glacial/interglacial timescales.

  • Sedimentary processes in the ocean

    I look at the distribution of sediment in the marine environment from coastal to the deep ocean. The sediment type is dependent on the local source from nearby rivers, as well as biological productivity (e.g. shells and skeletons) and authigenic sediment (geochemically precipitated out of the seawater). Sediment is redistributed by gravity and ocean currents. The distribution of sediment in the marine environment is important to determine marine benthic (seafloor) habitats. The recurrence of gravity transported sediment (called turbidites or debrites) along tectonically active continental margins has been used to study the frequency of large earthquakes.

Research impacts

My research focuses on Oceans and Climate and ranges from the fundamental science to the applied research problems. Several of my research projects link to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Climate change (SDG13) and Life below water (SDG14). I have published over 100 peer reviewed papers, and several of these papers have been cited in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessment reports, and other UN reports. I have also written and contributed to a range of government reports for the New Zealand government and the Australian Coastal Cooperative Research Centre (OzCoasts).

Search Professor Helen Bostock’s works on UQ eSpace

112 works between 2004 and 2025
All (112) Journal Article (104) Conference Publication (5) Book Chapter (3)

81 - 100 of 112 works

2013

Journal Article

Ecological distribution of recent deep-water foraminifera around New Zealand

Hayward, Bruce W., Sabaa, Ashwaq T., Grenfell, Hugh R., Neil, Helen and Bostock, Helen (2013). Ecological distribution of recent deep-water foraminifera around New Zealand. Journal of Foraminiferal Research, 43 (4), 415-442. doi: 10.2113/gsjfr.43.4.415

Ecological distribution of recent deep-water foraminifera around New Zealand

2013

Journal Article

Southwest Pacific Ocean response to a warmer world: insights from Marine Isotope Stage 5e

Cortese, G., Dunbar, G. B., Carter, L., Scott, G., Bostock, H., Bowen, M., Crundwell, M., Hayward, B. W., Howard, W., Martinez, J. I., Moy, A., Neil, H., Sabaa, A. and Sturm, A. (2013). Southwest Pacific Ocean response to a warmer world: insights from Marine Isotope Stage 5e. Paleoceanography, 28 (3), 585-598. doi: 10.1002/palo.20052

Southwest Pacific Ocean response to a warmer world: insights from Marine Isotope Stage 5e

2013

Journal Article

Palaeoenvironmental change in tropical Australasia over the last 30,000 years - a synthesis by the OZ-INTIMATE group

Reeves, Jessica M., Bostock, Helen C., Ayliffe, Linda K., Barrows, Timothy T., De Deckker, Patrick, Devriendt, Laurent S., Dunbar, Gavin B., Drysdale, Russell N., Fitzsimmons, Kathryn E., Gagan, Michael K., Griffiths, Michael L., Haberle, Simon G., Jansen, John D., Krause, Claire, Lewis, Stephen, McGregor, Helen V., Mooney, Scott D., Moss, Patrick, Nanson, Gerald C., Purcell, Anthony and van der Kaars, Sander (2013). Palaeoenvironmental change in tropical Australasia over the last 30,000 years - a synthesis by the OZ-INTIMATE group. Quaternary Science Reviews, 74, 97-114. doi: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2012.11.027

Palaeoenvironmental change in tropical Australasia over the last 30,000 years - a synthesis by the OZ-INTIMATE group

2013

Journal Article

A review of the Australian-New Zealand sector of the Southern Ocean over the last 30 ka (Aus-INTIMATE project)

Bostock, H. C., Barrows, T. T., Carter, L., Chase, Z., Cortese, G., Dunbar, G. B., Ellwood, M., Hayward, B., Howard, W., Neil, H. L., Noble, T. L., Mackintosh, A., Moss, P. T., Moy, A. D., White, D., Williams, M. J. M. and Armand, L. K. (2013). A review of the Australian-New Zealand sector of the Southern Ocean over the last 30 ka (Aus-INTIMATE project). Quaternary Science Reviews, 74, 35-57. doi: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2012.07.018

A review of the Australian-New Zealand sector of the Southern Ocean over the last 30 ka (Aus-INTIMATE project)

2013

Journal Article

Climate variability over the last 35,000 years recorded in marine and terrestrial archives in the Australian region: an OZ-INTIMATE compilation

Reeves, Jessica M., Barrows, Timothy T., Cohen, Timothy J., Kiem, Anthony S., Bostock, Helen C., Fitzsimmons, Kathryn E., Jansen, John D., Kemp, Justine, Krause, Claire, Petherick, Lynda and Phipps, Steven J. (2013). Climate variability over the last 35,000 years recorded in marine and terrestrial archives in the Australian region: an OZ-INTIMATE compilation. Quaternary Science Reviews, 74, 21-34. doi: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2013.01.001

Climate variability over the last 35,000 years recorded in marine and terrestrial archives in the Australian region: an OZ-INTIMATE compilation

2013

Journal Article

Climatic records over the past 30 ka from temperate Australia - a synthesis from the Oz-INTIMATE workgroup

Petherick, L., Bostock, H., Cohen, T. J., Fitzsimmons, K., Tibby, J., Fletcher, M. -S., Moss, P., Reeves, J., Mooney, S., Barrows, T., Kemp, J., Jansen, J., Nanson, G. and Dosseto, A. (2013). Climatic records over the past 30 ka from temperate Australia - a synthesis from the Oz-INTIMATE workgroup. Quaternary Science Reviews, 74, 58-77. doi: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2012.12.012

Climatic records over the past 30 ka from temperate Australia - a synthesis from the Oz-INTIMATE workgroup

2013

Journal Article

Differential effects of cleaning procedures on the trace element chemistry of planktonic foraminifera

Marr, Julene P., Bostock, Helen C., Carter, Lionel, Bolton, Annette and Smith, Euan (2013). Differential effects of cleaning procedures on the trace element chemistry of planktonic foraminifera. Chemical Geology, 351, 310-323. doi: 10.1016/j.chemgeo.2013.05.019

Differential effects of cleaning procedures on the trace element chemistry of planktonic foraminifera

2013

Journal Article

A 2300-Year Paleoearthquake record of the Southern Alpine Fault and Fiordland Subduction Zone, New Zealand, based on stacked turbidites

Barnes, Philip M., Bostock, Helen C., Neil, Helen L., Strachan, Lorna J. and Gosling, Matthew (2013). A 2300-Year Paleoearthquake record of the Southern Alpine Fault and Fiordland Subduction Zone, New Zealand, based on stacked turbidites. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 103 (4), 2424-2446. doi: 10.1785/0120120314

A 2300-Year Paleoearthquake record of the Southern Alpine Fault and Fiordland Subduction Zone, New Zealand, based on stacked turbidites

2013

Journal Article

Interaction of the subtropical front with topography around southern New Zealand

Smith, Robert O., Vennell, Ross, Bostock, Helen C. and Williams, Michael J. M. (2013). Interaction of the subtropical front with topography around southern New Zealand. Deep-Sea Research. Part 1: Oceanographic Research Papers, 76, 13-26. doi: 10.1016/j.dsr.2013.02.007

Interaction of the subtropical front with topography around southern New Zealand

2013

Journal Article

Southwest Pacific Ocean response to a warming world: Using Mg/Ca, Zn/Ca, and Mn/Ca in foraminifera to track surface ocean water masses during the last deglaciation

Marr, Julene P., Carter, Lionel, Bostock, Helen C., Bolton, Annette and Smith, Euan (2013). Southwest Pacific Ocean response to a warming world: Using Mg/Ca, Zn/Ca, and Mn/Ca in foraminifera to track surface ocean water masses during the last deglaciation. Paleoceanography, 28 (2), 347-362. doi: 10.1002/palo.20032

Southwest Pacific Ocean response to a warming world: Using Mg/Ca, Zn/Ca, and Mn/Ca in foraminifera to track surface ocean water masses during the last deglaciation

2013

Journal Article

An expanded modern dinoflagellate cyst dataset for the Southwest Pacific and Southern Hemisphere with environmental associations

Prebble, J. G., Crouch, E. M., Carter, L., Cortese, G., Bostock, H. and Neil, H. (2013). An expanded modern dinoflagellate cyst dataset for the Southwest Pacific and Southern Hemisphere with environmental associations. Marine Micropaleontology, 101, 33-48. doi: 10.1016/j.marmicro.2013.04.004

An expanded modern dinoflagellate cyst dataset for the Southwest Pacific and Southern Hemisphere with environmental associations

2013

Journal Article

Reviewing the circulation and mixing of Antarctic Intermediate Water in the South Pacific using evidence from geochemical tracers and Argo float trajectories

Bostock, Helen C., Sutton, Phil J., Williams, Michael J. M. and Opdyke, Bradley N. (2013). Reviewing the circulation and mixing of Antarctic Intermediate Water in the South Pacific using evidence from geochemical tracers and Argo float trajectories. Deep-Sea Research. Part 1: Oceanographic Research Papers, 73, 84-98. doi: 10.1016/j.dsr.2012.11.007

Reviewing the circulation and mixing of Antarctic Intermediate Water in the South Pacific using evidence from geochemical tracers and Argo float trajectories

2013

Journal Article

Calibration of the boron isotope proxy in the planktonic foraminifera Globigerinoides ruber for use in palaeo-CO2 reconstruction

Henehan, Michael J., Rae, James W.B., Foster, Gavin L., Erez, Jonathan, Prentice, Katherine C., Kucera, Michal, Bostock, Helen C., Martínez-Botí, Miguel A., Milton, J. Andy, Wilson, Paul A., Marshall, Brittney J. and Elliott, Tim (2013). Calibration of the boron isotope proxy in the planktonic foraminifera Globigerinoides ruber for use in palaeo-CO2 reconstruction. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 364, 111-122. doi: 10.1016/j.epsl.2012.12.029

Calibration of the boron isotope proxy in the planktonic foraminifera Globigerinoides ruber for use in palaeo-CO2 reconstruction

2013

Journal Article

Estimating carbonate parameters from hydrographic data for the intermediate and deep waters of the Southern Hemisphere oceans

Bostock, H. C., Fletcher, S. E. Mikaloff and Williams, M. J. M. (2013). Estimating carbonate parameters from hydrographic data for the intermediate and deep waters of the Southern Hemisphere oceans. Biogeosciences, 10 (10), 6199-6213. doi: 10.5194/bg-10-6199-2013

Estimating carbonate parameters from hydrographic data for the intermediate and deep waters of the Southern Hemisphere oceans

2012

Journal Article

Diatom silicon isotopes as a proxy for silicic acid utilisation: a Southern Ocean core top calibration

Egan, Katherine E., Rickaby, Rosalind E. M., Leng, Melanie J., Hendry, Katharine R., Hermoso, Michael, Sloane, Hilary J., Bostock, Helen and Halliday, Alex N. (2012). Diatom silicon isotopes as a proxy for silicic acid utilisation: a Southern Ocean core top calibration. Geochimica Et Cosmochimica Acta, 96, 174-192. doi: 10.1016/j.gca.2012.08.002

Diatom silicon isotopes as a proxy for silicic acid utilisation: a Southern Ocean core top calibration

2012

Journal Article

Vegetation and climate in Southern Hemisphere mid-latitudes since 210 ka: new insights from marine and terrestrial pollen records from New Zealand

Ryan, M. T., Dunbar, G. B., Vandergoes, M. J., Neil, H. L., Hannah, M. J., Newnham, R. M., Bostock, H. and Alloway, B. V. (2012). Vegetation and climate in Southern Hemisphere mid-latitudes since 210 ka: new insights from marine and terrestrial pollen records from New Zealand. Quaternary Science Reviews, 48, 80-98. doi: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2012.06.001

Vegetation and climate in Southern Hemisphere mid-latitudes since 210 ka: new insights from marine and terrestrial pollen records from New Zealand

2012

Journal Article

Palaeocirculation across New Zealand during the last glacial maximum at similar to 21 ka

Lorrey, Andrew M., Vandergoes, Marcus, Almond, Peter, Renwick, James, Stephens, Tom, Bostock, Helen, Mackintosh, Andrew, Newnham, Rewi, Williams, Paul W., Ackerley, Duncan, Neil, Helen and Fowler, Anthony M. (2012). Palaeocirculation across New Zealand during the last glacial maximum at similar to 21 ka. Quaternary Science Reviews, 36, 189-213. doi: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2011.09.025

Palaeocirculation across New Zealand during the last glacial maximum at similar to 21 ka

2012

Journal Article

Evolution of Macquarie Ridge Complex seamounts: Implications for volcanic and tectonic processes at the Australia-Pacific plate boundary south of New Zealand

Conway, Chris E., Bostock, Helen C., Baker, Joel A., Wysoczanski, Richard J. and Verdier, Anne-Laure (2012). Evolution of Macquarie Ridge Complex seamounts: Implications for volcanic and tectonic processes at the Australia-Pacific plate boundary south of New Zealand. Marine Geology, 295, 34-50. doi: 10.1016/j.margeo.2011.11.009

Evolution of Macquarie Ridge Complex seamounts: Implications for volcanic and tectonic processes at the Australia-Pacific plate boundary south of New Zealand

2012

Journal Article

Planktic foraminifera-based sea-surface temperature record in the Tasman Sea and history of the Subtropical Front around New Zealand, over the last one million years

Hayward, Bruce W., Sabaa, Ashwaq T., Kolodziej, Andrew, Crundwell, Martin P., Steph, Silke, Scott, George H., Neil, Helen L., Bostock, Helen C., Carter, Lionel and Grenfell, Hugh R. (2012). Planktic foraminifera-based sea-surface temperature record in the Tasman Sea and history of the Subtropical Front around New Zealand, over the last one million years. Marine Micropaleontology, 82-83, 13-27. doi: 10.1016/j.marmicro.2011.10.003

Planktic foraminifera-based sea-surface temperature record in the Tasman Sea and history of the Subtropical Front around New Zealand, over the last one million years

2011

Journal Article

Ecological and temperature controls on Mg/Ca ratios of Globigerina bulloides from the southwest Pacific Ocean

Marr, Julene P., Baker, Joel A., Carter, Lionel, Allan, Aidan S. R., Dunbar, Gavin B. and Bostock, Helen C. (2011). Ecological and temperature controls on Mg/Ca ratios of Globigerina bulloides from the southwest Pacific Ocean. Paleoceanography, 26 (2) PA2209, n/a-n/a. doi: 10.1029/2010pa002059

Ecological and temperature controls on Mg/Ca ratios of Globigerina bulloides from the southwest Pacific Ocean

Current funding

  • 2022 - 2026
    Is there a climatic tipping point for Antarctic Bottom Water formation?
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2023 - 2025
    Australian Membership of the International Ocean Discovery Program 2023-24 (ARC LIEF administered by The Australian National University)
    Australian National University
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2025
    Millennial climate change in southern Australia during the Last Glacial (ARC Discovery Project administered by the University of Melbourne)
    University of Melbourne
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2023
    Australian Membership of the International Ocean Discovery Program (ARC LIEF project administered by ANU)
    Australian National University
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2023
    Ocean circulation and Australian climate change across the Mid-Pleistoscene Transition (MPT)
    Australian National University
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Helen Bostock is:
Available for supervision

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Available projects

  • Physical and biogeochemical oceanography of the Southern Great Barrier Reef

    The Southern Great Barrier Reef region forms an important interface between the reef matrix, the continental shelf and the coastal zone and marks the start of the East Australian CurrentThe Southern Great . The ocean circulation of the Southern Great Barrier Reef is poorly characterised. The oceanographic circulation of the Southern Great Barrier Reef is poorly characterised with just a couple of dedicated oceanography voyages in the 1980s and 1990s. This PhD project will utilise new physical and biogeochemical observational datasets that will be collected during a research voyage on the RV Investigator in August 2026. These observational datasets will be used in conjunction with the eReefs models to characterise the water masses and understand the ocean circulation and offshore-onshore exchange of waters between the East Australian Current and the southern coral reefs. The research is in collaboration with CSIRO.

    The project will involve working with large shipboard oceanography datasets from underway and CTD, remote sensing data of Sea Surface Temperature, Nutrients, Chlorophyll- a and Sea Surface Height. There is the potential for the student to participate on the research voyage in August 2026 if they start their PhD mid 2026. The project will also involve comparing the observations from the voyage with the CSIRO eReefs model.

    Preferred educational background

    • Oceanography or ocean engineering, physics or maths
    • Experience of coding in R, Python or Matlab
    • Knowledge of ocean biogeochemistry would be highly desirable.
    • Indigenous, diverse students are encouraged to apply

  • Changes in the Antarctic Intermediate Water around Australia over the last glacial cycle

    Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW) sits at a water depth of 500-1500 m around Australia. This water mass that forms in the Southern Ocean plays an important role in the uptake of carbon and is thought to play an important role in providing nutrients to the subtropics. The AAIW has also been proposed to play an key role in the climate change over glacial cycles. Despite this we know relatively little about this water mass around Australia and how it has changed over time and its influence on the regional climate.

    This project will look at oceanographic data and process a series of marine sediment cores from the Indian, Southern and Pacific oceans to understand past changes in AAIW over the last glacial cycle (~150 ka). The project will involve lab work to process microfossils and stable isotopes and other geochemical proxies.

    Preferred educational background

    • Earth or Marine Sciences or Geography background
    • Indigenous, diverse students are encouraged to apply
    • Interest in oceanography, climate, sedimentology, micropaleontology and geochemistry would be beneficial

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Multiproxy approach using deep-sea corals to constrain environmental changes in the deep Indian Ocean

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Jianxin Zhao

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Exploring the interactions of the East Australian Current with canyons

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr David Gwyther

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Solving the million year old mystery of the Mid-Pleistocene climate Transition using machine learning of microfossils

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Kevin Welsh

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Paleoenvironmental changes in the northern Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Kevin Welsh

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Reconstructing past environmental changes in the Cape Darnley, East Antarctica, region using microfossils from marine sediment cores

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Kevin Welsh

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Landscape as an artefact: Disentangling past human impacts on the vegetation Surry Hills, northern Tasmania using pollen and phytoliths

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Alison Crowther, Dr Kevin Welsh

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Oceanography and modelling on the Cape Darnley region, East Antarctica

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr David Gwyther

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Professor Helen Bostock directly for media enquiries about:

  • Ocean carbon
  • Oceanography
  • Past climate
  • Seafloor mapping

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