Predicting pollutant dispersion within the CBD. The accidental or pre-meditated release of hazardous gases and aerosols within an urban environment are potentially threatening to human life and safety. Emergency responders require adequate information to quickly address these concerns yet the lack of detailed observations and the complex nature of the dispersion make this task difficult. This project will collect detailed observations of tracer dispersion within the Perth central business distri ....Predicting pollutant dispersion within the CBD. The accidental or pre-meditated release of hazardous gases and aerosols within an urban environment are potentially threatening to human life and safety. Emergency responders require adequate information to quickly address these concerns yet the lack of detailed observations and the complex nature of the dispersion make this task difficult. This project will collect detailed observations of tracer dispersion within the Perth central business district and combine these observations with multiscale modelling to redefine appropriate emergency response models as well as their limits. Such analysis will enhance mitigation strategies.Read moreRead less
Monitoring and Predicting Frost Events in the Agricultural Area of WA. Frost is commonly ranked by farmers as the second most important climate risk after rainfall variability. Thus reliable nocturnal temperature forecasts are of paramount importance in understanding the potential for frost formation and enabling its timely prediction and detection. Such forecasts would allow appropriate active or passive management responses. Utilising the existing meteorological network of the Department of Ag ....Monitoring and Predicting Frost Events in the Agricultural Area of WA. Frost is commonly ranked by farmers as the second most important climate risk after rainfall variability. Thus reliable nocturnal temperature forecasts are of paramount importance in understanding the potential for frost formation and enabling its timely prediction and detection. Such forecasts would allow appropriate active or passive management responses. Utilising the existing meteorological network of the Department of Agriculture, this project aims to develop an integrated frost prediction system that will provide timely estimates of both the spatial and temporal extent of frost events for farmers and agribusiness.Read moreRead less
Impact of land use on cloud formation. Large scale land clearing has the potential to significantly modify regional climates yet current climate models do not incorporate an adequate representation of the land surface. Within Western Australia the rabbit fence provides a unique environment in which the interaction between the land surface and the atmosphere can be studied without other competing influences. A combination of satellite, aircraft and ground based observations will be used to relate ....Impact of land use on cloud formation. Large scale land clearing has the potential to significantly modify regional climates yet current climate models do not incorporate an adequate representation of the land surface. Within Western Australia the rabbit fence provides a unique environment in which the interaction between the land surface and the atmosphere can be studied without other competing influences. A combination of satellite, aircraft and ground based observations will be used to relate cloud formation to land characteristics and provide a clearer insight into the climatic impact of human-induced land surface changes.Read moreRead less