Carra Williams

Geocoastal Research Group

School of Geosciences, The University of Sydney

e carra.williams@sydney.edu.au

Biography: I did my BSc studying Earth Science from Cardiff University and a MSc in Petroleum Geoscience from the University of Aberdeen. I worked for CSIRO and Woodside as a geologist in 2012-2013 before joining Schlumberger as a geologist in 2013, which involved collaborating with clients to develop forward stratigraphic models using Petrel GPM (Geological Process Modelling) software. I joined the Geocoastal Research Group (GRG) at the University of Sydney, Australia as a PhD candidate in 2021.

Thesis title: Reconstructing Miocene-Quaternary carbonate platform evolution on the Northwest Shelf of Australia: insights from seismic stratigraphy, neutron scattering and forward stratigraphic modelling

Research interests: My research investigates the evolution of carbonate platforms and coral reefs on the Northwest Shelf of Australia since the Miocene (ca. 20 million years ago). The research is multi-disciplinary incorporating interpretations from seismic stratigraphy, sedimentology, marine geology, geophysics, paleoecology, geochemistry, neutron scattering and forward stratigraphic modelling. I focus on Scott Reef and encompass multi-scale datasets to generate forward stratigraphic models that evaluates carbonate system responses to eustatic and environmental changes through time. This research aims to improve our understanding of the complex interactions between sedimentary, tectonic, and oceanographic forcings that also provides valuable insights for predicting coral reef response to future environmental change.

RESEARCH KEYWORDS

• Scott Reef Northwest Shelf, Australia
• Carbonate platform & coral reef forward stratigraphic modelling
• Seismic stratigraphy
• Sedimentology
• Sea-level and tectonic variations
• Mid-Pleistocene climate transition
• Quaternary fossil coral reef development
• Neutron computed tomography, neutron scattering

 

CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS/ PUBLICATIONS

2021

AAPG/SEG ACE 2021 – 26^th September 2021: Williams C., Courtade S., Dutra H.P.L., Lejri M., Habel W.B., Salomonsen P., 2021. Reproducing carbonate sedimentary processes and architectures with stratigraphic forward modelling. Oral Presentation.

GSA GESSS 2021 – 29th November 2021: Williams C., Courtade S., Dutra H.P.L., Lejri M., Habel W.B., Salomonsen P., 2021. Reproducing carbonate sedimentary processes and architectures with stratigraphic forward modelling. Oral Presentation.

2022

ICRS July 2022: Williams, C., Paumard, V., Webster, J. M., Leonard, J., Salles, T., O’Leary, M., & Lang, S. (2023). Environmental controls on the resilience of Scott Reefs since the Miocene (North West Shelf, Australia): Insights from 3D seismic data. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 151, 106188-. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2023.106188

GSA GESSS 2022: Neutron Scattering technology to date fossil coral reefs from the NWS, Australia

2023

AEGC Brisbane 2023: Poster presentation – Environmental controls on the resilience of Scott Reefs since the Miocene (North West Shelf, Australia): Insights from 3D seismic data.

AEGC Geopitch 3-minute lightening talk (PhD overview)

IAS Sedsonline talk 2023: Difficulties with Diagenesis

IAS Dubrovnik conference 2023: Dingo NeutronCT: A new high-resolution and non-destructive method for vetting coral fossil core for paleoclimate and paleochronological reconstructions.

2024

EGU Vienna April 2024: Abstract: Coral reef response since the Mid-Pleistocene Climate Transition on the North West Shelf, Australia: Insights from fossil coral reef cores

AQUA North Stradbroke Island 2024 Abstract: Coral reef response since the Mid-Pleistocene Climate Transition on the North West Shelf, Australia: Insights from fossil coral reef cores