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Research brief: Climate models under-represent tropical heating variations

August 14, 2018 11:33 pm Published by Comments Off on Research brief: Climate models under-represent tropical heating variations

This research demonstrates how cloud processes, steep mountains, tropical coastlines, the daily changes in solar insolation and planetary-scale waves work together to cause large variations in the tropical heating that drives global circulation patterns. Many of these effects are under-represented in global climate models.

Research brief: MAAT reveals hidden sources of model divergence

August 14, 2018 8:56 pm Published by Comments Off on Research brief: MAAT reveals hidden sources of model divergence

The MAAT framework can be used to systematically run multiple model simulations to explore how different underlying model assumptions, hypotheses and parameters lead to predicted model behaviour and isolate the causes of model divergence.

Research brief: Understanding the origin of ENSO diversity for improved forecasts

July 25, 2018 3:00 am Published by Comments Off on Research brief: Understanding the origin of ENSO diversity for improved forecasts

It is hoped this proposed synthesis of two ENSO structures, their interaction with each other and how they respond to external forcing, will be the catalyst for future research and practical applications for forecasting and determining the impacts of present and future ENSO events.

Research brief: Paris target impacts compared using pattern scaling projections and climate model outputs

July 13, 2018 6:48 am Published by Comments Off on Research brief: Paris target impacts compared using pattern scaling projections and climate model outputs

In relation to the Paris Agreement targets of 1.5°C and 2°C, new research shows the differences in results between pattern-scaling and climate model output were primarily due to forcings other than changes to greenhouse gas emissions.

Research brief: Regional climate models capture changes to extreme storms

July 12, 2018 6:46 am Published by Comments Off on Research brief: Regional climate models capture changes to extreme storms

Short, extreme rainfall events will increase in a warming climate, according to observations and climate models. Australian observations suggest these storms become smaller in size, with increased rainfall concentrating even more around the centre of the storm cell. However, there has been recent contradictory climate model research that suggests storm areas may become larger. To understand this contradiction the researchers compared two different model types to real world observations of storm cell changes that occurred with rising temperatures. An area... View Article

Research brief: Some trees may survive future heat better than expected

July 11, 2018 11:53 pm Published by Comments Off on Research brief: Some trees may survive future heat better than expected

This research suggests some trees and in particular, Australian trees, may be more resilient than expected to future warming and extreme events. These findings have implications for planning around which species to plant in “green cities” to help mitigate future climate extremes.