This project will investigate the frequency and intensity of Australian drought in stable warmer and cooler climates. The student will utilise two 1000-year runs of the CESM climate model run under doubled and halved CO2 conditions relative to pre-industrial. These new climates are both warmer and cooler, but also have stronger and weaker El Nino events respectively compared to pre-industrial climate. This project will first quantify drought statistics in each simulation, then aim to understand the links between changes in drought, changes in mean climate, and changes large-scale models of variability such as the El Nino Southern Oscillation.
Supervisors: Nicola Maher (nicola.maher@anu.edu.au), Nerilie Abram (nerilie.abram@anu.edu.au) and Georgy Falster (georgy.falster@anu.edu.au)
Location: ANU