Welcome to the first Weather and Climate Interactions RP report. The new program name is simply a result of rationalising CLEX’s continuing research program under new headings that more clearly delineate the focus of the work we do.
This paper used statistical techniques to investigate changes in extreme climate events that currently occur, on average, only once every 20 years. These techniques are applied to data related to heat, rainfall, drought and conditions conducive to bushfires and thunderstorms from detailed climate modelling commissioned by NSW and ACT Governments.
Maximum temperatures in Australia during spring have exceeded historic records on multiple occasions in recent years. Understanding what drives these high temperatures may lead to better forecasts of extreme heat in the future.
The majority of heatwaves affecting south-eastern Australia are part of large and strong weather systems propagating across Australia, and not due to stationary or blocked weather systems as seen in some other regions of the world.
Project Coolbit, is an ongoing investigation that aims to create a personalised approach to assessing thermal comfort and preventing health complications during extreme heat events. It is research that could not only save the lives of individuals but may also change the way we design future cities.
The first comprehensive worldwide assessment of heatwaves down to regional levels has revealed that in nearly every part of the world heatwaves have been increasing in frequency and duration since the 1950’s. The research has also produced a new metric, cumulative heat, which reveals exactly how much heat is packed into individual heatwaves and heatwave seasons.
CLEX researchers have developed Australia’s longest daily temperature record, identifying a decrease in cold extremes and an increase in heatwaves around Adelaide since 1838.
Charuni writes about the stress of facing a PhD confirmation during a pandemic and how doing a PhD has changed her attitude to herself. She also suggests some approaches that have made the confirmation process a little easier.
Central Europe has recently experienced extreme weather events, so researchers investigated whether this was the result of a weakening jet stream and changes to atmospheric circulation.
Using a simplified climate model, researchers forced the south polar winds to reverse arbitrarily and found that the final impact at the surface is indistinguishable from events where the winds reverse in response to natural phenomena.