David Hopley: Geomorphologist of the Great Barrier Reef

David Hopley: Geomorphologist of the Great Barrier Reef

David Hopley of James Cook University has inspired many through his teaching, research and writing. His passing is a great loss to coral reef science. David’s numerous contributions will remain as testimony to a gentleman scholar and scientist who devoted a career to coastal geomorphology in general and reef studies in particular.

I got to know David in the early 1970s as we entered into discussions on Holocene sea level change. At that time there were differences in detail discussed by members of an Australasian group led by Edmund Gill on whether sea level was higher or not during the mid- to late Holocene, the so-called “stillstand”. Our respective field studies highlighted uncertainties in interpreting the position of relative sea level along the eastern coast of Australia. David had been working on the Burdekin Delta and on other aspects of north Queensland geomorphology including the GBR and coastal impacts of storm surges.  Progressively explanations for these differences became better understood. Greater understanding was achieved about materials we were dating and forces involved in determining elevations of those materials with respect to tidal levels. In 1983 we came together and jointly published a review of what we then knew including an appreciation of hydro-isostasy and  morphodynamics of coastal sedimentation (Hopley, D. and Thom, B., 1983, “Australian sea levels in the last 15000 years: a review”. In Hopley D. (ed.) Australian Sea Levels in the Last 15000 Years. Monograph Series , Occasional Paper 3, Dept. of Geography, James Cook University, 3-26).

Two things emerged from this period in my relations with David. One was his ability to work through issues where views could become quite entrenched. And second was his interest in exploring and developing new ideas. This became apparent as we discussed his contribution to a book I edited on “Coastal Geomorphology of Australia” (Academic Press, 1984). He put together an innovative paper on “The Holocene ‘high energy window’ on the Central Great Barrier Reef” (Chapter 7, 135-150). This work picked up a concept introduced by Conrad Neumann in Bermuda that examined the morphological effects of changes in wave energy levels as reefs grew up to their present levels. Hopley understood how antecedent and other local conditions  may impact on the time the window was “open” and when it “closed” thus being “helpful in explaining a number of otherwise anomalous coastal features” (p.147).

Around this time David was writing his magnificent book : “The Geomorphology of the Great Barrier Reef: Quaternary Development of Coral Reefs” (1982, John Wiley, New York). This work brought together much of what was learnt about the GBR and other reef systems during the 1970s. This had been a period of intense investigation involving David and colleagues and students at James Cook and from other institutions such as the Bureau of Mineral Resources (BMR). He was able to gather material based on his own studies and those of the 1973 GBR Expedition in the northern GBR and BMR drilling work in more southern areas led by Peter Davies. Special mention should be made collaborative and supportive research at JCU such as with Peter Isdale on micro-atolls in Search (1977, 8, 79-81), which Colin Woodroffe tells me still provides insight into the potential of these coral archives. David supervised Nick Harvey ‘s Honours and PhD research during this period. Nick points out that David had appreciated earlier work of Ed Purdy in Belize that led to his PhD research on the use of shallow seismic methods to identify the pre-Holocene substrate of modern reefs. As he relayed to me: “without Dave’s encouragement and support, I doubt I would have embarked on an academic career in geomorphology”—what a testimony!

Continued involvement in collaborative research over the next three decades on the GBR led to a revision of the 1982 book. He was joined by a new generation of post-graduate students and colleagues at JCU,  Scott Smithers and Kevin Parnell, in publishing the incredible “The  Geomorphology of the Great Barrier Reef: Development, Diversity and Change” ( 2007,  Cambridge University Press, Cambridge). Roger McLean provided a comprehensive review of this book in Geographical Research (2009. 47, 87-89). He notes that it was written with a confidence, passion and urgency that was less evident in the 1982 book. What becomes clear is the important role played by geomorphology as a discipline in steering a middle course between ecologists and geologists with its focus on how  the GBR has changed during the Holocene. Through their understanding of reef types linked to varied responses to sea level change and morphodynamics, the authors, in the words of Roger, “confront several of the recognised problems on the GBR such as sediment smothering, nutrient enhancement , eutrophication , acidification and climate change, and in each case the geomorphological perspective they bring tends to be conservative rather than alarmist”. But in noting how much media attention is offered to the many biologists who stress the threats to GBR future, the authors  expressed concern that given past “low esteem given to geomorphology” it may not be appropriately used in future management and planning of the GBR. This book provided a redress to that pessimism.

David was immensely proud of his role in editing the mammoth “Encyclopedia of Modern Coral Reefs: Structure, Form and Process” (2011, Springer, 1205pp). This volume in Springers Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences series contained 260 entries of varying lengths with authors from 15 countries. It is brilliantly illustrated with a vast array of topics related to reef research covering biology, geomorphic features, reef locations, research techniques and historical vignettes of key past and present reef researchers. The reference list is massive. It was an enormous undertaking the likes of which we may not see for some time. It takes a dedicated and highly respected scientist like David to bring this together. As stated by Colin Woodroffe: “it is an incredible memorial to a career based in Townsville that has reached out to contribute to reefs around the world”.

It would be remiss of me to omit a reference to the efforts of Scott Smithers in providing intellectual, emotional  and comforting support to David during his period of illness. As a colleague and friend at JCU, Scott regularly met with David and kept his geomorphic flame burning until the end. Well done Scott.

Vale David Hopley.

I would like to thank Colin Woodroffe, Roger McLean and Nick Harvey for their assistance in preparing this blog.

Bruce Thom

Words by Prof Bruce Thom. Please respect the author’s thoughts and reference appropriately: (c) ACS, 2024. For correspondence about this blog post please email admin@australiancoastalsociety.org.au

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