Dr Tim Wheeler, who is leading the Walker Institute's involvement in the project says:
"Our expertise in climate and its effects on agriculture, land-use and water resources will be used to help manage the substantial risks of climate for society and businesses in Queensland. This research collaboration illustrates well the international standing of the University of Reading's Walker Institute.
We're improving climate models so they are more realistic in the tropics, from individual tropical rain clouds to the much larger scales of the Australian/Asian monsoon and El Niño.
With improved models we can assess with more confidence whether man-made climate change is contributing to the current drought and improve the quality of climate forecasts for the coming season to many decades ahead.
Scientists involved will also be looking at flooding and drought risk under different climate conditions, the impact on water quality and the implications for water resources.
Agriculture is a major part of Queensland 's economy. Experts from the Department of Agriculture will work with climate modellers to assess the impact of climate on Queenslands' crops.
The insurance industry are concerned with typhoons, high winds and flooding over northern Queensland.
Higher resolution climate models being developed at the Walker Institute will be used alongside high resolution observational data to improve seasonal forecasts of the likely location, frequency and severity of a range of hazardous weather events and to assess how such events might change over the coming decades. |
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