The aim of this student project is to investigate the relationships between hydrological extremes (especially soil moisture drought) and wheat production in Australia. The outcome of the project may inform the development seasonal forecasts of hydrological indicators for agricultural production in Australia.
The 21st Century has seen an increase in northwest cloudbands across Australia, according to a new dataset developed by CLEX researchers.
CLEX researchers with the Bureau of Meteorology have created a new 20-year-long regularly updated precipitation dataset for Australia using 50 radar sites. This will allow researchers to examine the climatology of extreme events, follow cloud processes, estimate hail size, determine cloud top height and much more.
CLEX researchers found that applying a statistical correction to projected sea surface temperatures has a major impact on changes to rainfall with global warming, leading to a 25% reduction in future precipitation projected for the south-western Pacific.
New students, an OA for Andy Pitman and some key work on evaporation, the impacts of mesophyll conductance on plant growth, a new algorithm for photosynthesis and future projections of drought made for a strong start to 2019.
Weather time scales will be needed for models to accurately simulate the dynamic contribution to future precipitation changes with global warming. This will better reproduce spatial patterns and reduce regional uncertainties, especially in the tropics.
Computer models used to simulate global climate agree the climate will warm in response to increasing atmospheric greenhouse gases. However, a recent paper by Bador et al. (2018)1 includes results that highlight our uncertainty about exactly how extremely wet conditions will change in Australia. Further development of Australia’s national climate model, ACCESS, may help reduce this uncertainty.
Angeline Pendergrass (NCAR). The uneven nature of precipitation and its changes. Video connection details: Name: Bureau of Meteorology – R&D Seminars. Video Address – Bureau Internal: 558912. External Participants: 558912@bom.gov.au. PIN: 3099#. Audio Connection: +61 3 9900 8912.
Angie Pendergrass (NCAR). The uneven nature of precipitation and its changes.
Rob Chadwick (UK Met Office). Understanding Tropical Precipitation and Atmospheric Circulation Responses to Climate Change