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Research

Research Programs

Earth System Modelling

The aim of the Earth System Modelling research program is to provide the Australian science community with the skills necessary to develop a world-competitive coupled climate-Earth system simulator (the Australian Community Climate and Earth System Simulator, ACCESS) and associated infrastructure.

This Program is the centre-piece of the The Centre for Australian Weather and Climate Research (CAWCR) and interacts strongly with all other CAWCR capabilities. It will provide Australia with the next generation capability to diagnose, analyse and forecast Australia's weather and climate-sensitive natural resource systems (rainfall, soil water, vegetation), improve seasonal prediction, understand climate and climate change, enhance our capacity for disaster reduction and mitigation, and improve natural resource management throughout the coming decades.

Earth System Modelling capabilities include atmospheric, ocean, land-surface, carbon and nutrient cycle, coupled climate, and complex systems modelling, data assimilation, model evaluation, and systems integration. More information about this program [PDF 24kb]

Atmosphere and Land Observation and Assessment

Atmosphere and Land Observation and Assessment program provides observations and analysis of the atmosphere, weather, and climate processes, and terrestrial systems.  These observation are needed to monitor the state of the atmosphere and land surface, evaluate climate mitigation technologies and policies. This knowledge also underpins and improves operational now-casting technologies and Earth system models through state-of-the-art data assimilation methods.

The Programs capabilities include micrometeorology, regional and global biogeochemical cycles, atmospheric composition, remote sensing, data assimilation, and observational technologies. More information about this program [PDF 20kb]

Weather and Environment Prediction

The Weather and Environment Prediction research program provides meteorological research expertise in CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, The Centre for Australian Weather and Climate Research, and the Bureau of Meteorology.

Weather and Environment Prediction capability is used to:

  • develop and evaluate meso-scale weather prediction systems, in concert with the ACCESS development teams and focussing on high impact weather systems such as tropical cyclones
  • develop environmental forecasting systems for the Australian community and industry, especially to support the renewable (wind, solar) energy sector and community needs for air quality assessments
  • develop and apply now-casting techniques, especially for aviation, water
    resources, and emergency management; and (iv) develop new forecast systems and procedures to support the Bureau in providing public weather services. More information about this program [PDF 20kb]

Climate Variability and Change

The primary focus of the Climate Variability and Change program is to progress the science of climate prediction over seasonal to century periods. The work includes the development of seasonal climate forecasting systems and provision of up-to-date science information about current climate variability and future climate change. The latter includes projection of the likely impacts of climate change on Australia's natural and human systems to inform adaptation planning.

The Program's capabilities include seasonal to inter-annual climate variability analysis and prediction, integrated assessment of climate variability and climate change, climate change analysis, prediction and projection, and climate change detection and attribution. More information about this program [PDF 24kb]

Ocean Observation, Assessment and Prediction

The Ocean Observation, Assessment and Prediction program creates the infrastructure and knowledge to monitor, understand, and predict the key processes that drive variability and change in the ocean and physical marine environment of the Australian region. This knowledge helps researchers to evaluate and model the ocean’s role in weather and climate. It is also used to develop ocean forecasting systems for operational deployment by the Bureau and the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Ocean observations are key to understanding ocean processes, providing model parameters, supporting data assimilation, and testing model predictions.

Research capabilities include observing system technologies, ocean physical and biogeochemical processes, ocean and marine weather modelling and prediction, and satellite remote sensing. More information about this program [PDF 20kb]

Marine Biogeochemistry

The Marine Biogeochemistry program studies the cycling, fate and impact of major nutrients and other chemicals in aquatic ecosystems in habitats ranging from estuarine and coastal environments to oceanic waters, with particular focus on lower trophic levels, including the factors that influence phytoplankton productivity. The work is highly multi-disciplinary and embraces field observations using advanced and novel observing technologies, laboratory and field process studies, advanced analytical facilities, and state-of-the-art modelling. More information about this program [PDF 24kb]

Aquaculture Genetics, Nutrition and Production

Aquaculture Genetics, Nutrition and Production program is making a strong, applied science contribution to the aquaculture industry nationally in established and emerging aquaculture species and novel feeds whilst also delivering benefits internationally. The capability is concentrated on those species with a closed life cycle in culture and industry capacity to adopt new technologies to improve productivity. Aquaculture Genetics, Nutrition and Production researchers are seeking to improve breeding lines, initially in four key industries (salmon, table oysters, abalone, prawns), as well as providing genetic solutions to animal health problems (e.g. in salmon) and novel feed development. The development of feeds through microbial biomass as a sustainable feed source has gained recent support and shows promise of growing strongly in the next few years. Capabilities include aquaculture genetics, aquaculture nutrition, aquaculture production, and lipid biotechnology. More information about this program [PDF 72kb]

Marine Ecological Processes and Prediction

The Marine Ecological Processes and Prediction program provides science focused on understanding the distribution and status of marine organisms and habitats and the natural and anthropogenic processes that influence these distributions. A goal is to understand the spatially cumulative impacts of various activities and the  tradeoffs between effects of uses of ecosystems and sustained provision of ecosystems services. Capabilities include connectivity and spatial dynamics, benthic ecology and modelling, oceanscape genetics, and taxonomy and biogeography. More information about this program [PDF 24kb]

Integrated Marine and Coastal Assessment and Management

The Integrated Marine and Coastal Assessment and Management program aims to address a wide range of stakeholder needs from providing advice underpinned by rapid assessment techniques through to fully integrated whole-of-system evaluations of alternative management options for multiple uses of marine systems. The program uses the latest computational modelling and simulation methods and has a strong focus on product delivery to assist decision making by primary stakeholders.

Capabilities include fisheries assessment and Management Strategy Evaluation (MSE), integrated bio-physical modelling and MSE, economic, bio-economic and futures modelling, and regional risk assessment.  More information about this program [PDF 20kb]