CSIRO’s research in climate, weather and ocean prediction is helping Australia’s climate sensitive society make better decisions.
A warming Australia
Over the 20th century Australia has warmed faster than the global average. Without immediate measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, this warming will accelerate through the 21st century. The slow response of the global climate system means that further change is inevitable, even if we were able to sharply reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
There is also a realisation that the major damage associated with climate change comes from changes in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather.
CSIRO has moved beyond science that tests whether a 'climate problem' exists, to researching how Australians can manage the intense year-to-year variations in climate that we all experience, as well as the climate change that is ahead of us.
“Human-induced climate change is one of the major challenges confronting the world this century.”
Hon John Howard, Australian Prime Minister, 15 June 2004.
To help our climate sensitive society make better decisions, our scientists are undertaking research to further our knowledge of the climate, weather and ocean systems, that will help:
-
shape Australia’s adaptation to global climate change
-
limit the social, economic and environmental risk associated with climate variations and weather extremes
-
generate valuable services to Government, industry and business, research and the community.
Our research brings together observations and modelling to provide solutions over periods of seasons, years and decades. These will help answer questions of how climate change affects a range of environments.
CSIRO is also undertaking research to develop a national capability in ocean forecasting as an aid to national security and monitoring the marine environment.
Future directions
By 2009, CSIRO and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) will have completed an internationally-leading framework that will simulate and visualise processes in the Earth’s climate system. It will provide Australia with the next generation capability for diagnosing, analysing and forecasting Australia’s climate sensitive natural resource systems, including:
-
rainfall
-
soil
-
water
-
vegetation.
CSIRO is also working on the next generation of tools to help Australians make better decisions in the face of climatic extremes. Through advanced analysis and predictions of our environment, we can better manage our water resources, soils and farmlands. We can assist in the design of road and cities. These will help improve resource management by national, state and local authorities in coming decades.
Partnerships
CSIRO is working to develop improved prediction systems and management tools with state Greenhouse Offices at the local and state level.
For example, through the Indian Ocean Climate Initiative, CSIRO and its collaborators have provided key science to the West Australian Government. Our research has also been used by the Victorian Government in reviewing Melbourne’s water storage and distribution system. We have also assisted the Gold Coast City Council in its flood plain management into the future, by examining coincident severe rainfall and storm surge events.
We work with the Australian Department of Climate Change and with research institutions and organisations nationally and internationally, including the World Climate Research Program and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
In Australia, partnerships include:
-
Wealth from Oceans Flagship
-
Water for a Healthy Country Flagship
-
Australian universities
-
Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM)
-
Australian Department of Climate Change
-
Australian Antarctic Division
-
Antarctic Climate & Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre.
The research will also require large-scale networks providing observations of ocean and atmospheric change. CSIRO is working with international research developments such as the Global Ocean Observing System and the Argo robotic ocean profiling initiative, by monitoring of ocean currents north of Australia, and the Indian and Southern Oceans. This global network will help with ocean forecasting and is the basis of forecasting climate a season or more ahead.
Learn more about CSIRO's research into Understanding Climate Change.
Site Map | Legal Notice and Disclaimer | Privacy | Copyright | Last updated: 20 December 2005
