The wide variation in ocean temperature is a major driver of global weather processes.

Researching our climate and weather

CSIRO conducts research into weather, oceans, climate, drought and atmospheric pollution, concentrating on environmental issues affecting Australia and the Southern Hemisphere.

• 16 March 2009 | Updated 14 October 2011

CSIRO seeks a better understanding of climate and its variations in order to assess how our climate is likely to change in the future.

We do this by:

• monitoring and observing the oceans and atmosphere

  From the results of our research efforts we are able to provide advice and applications for the benefit of Australia.
• monitoring and measuring climate and weather impacts
• maintaining a world-class climate modelling facility
• providing specialised weather forecasting applications based on CSIRO models
• undertaking strategic and applied research into climate-related environmental risk assessment
• using a range of greenhouse gas models to interpret greenhouse gas cycles, predict future gas concentrations and identify their role in climate change
• contributing to national and international science and policy making.

Our scientists are also working on the impact of climate and weather on agriculture, the land and our freshwater resources.

Drought in the Australian environment is a key focus.

From the results of our wide-ranging research efforts, we are able to provide advice and applications for the benefit of Australia.

Science partnership

CSIRO is also a major partner in the Australian Climate Change Science Program (ACCSP) along with the Department of Climate Change and the Bureau of Meteorology. The research program aims to maintain and develop Australia’s expertise in climate change science, and lead the research effort in the Southern Hemisphere.

Much of CSIRO’s climate science is conducted in partnership with the Bureau of Meteorology in The Centre for Australian Weather and Climate Research.

Discover more about CSIRO's understanding and predicting climate change capabilities.