Cooperative Research Centre for Southern Hemisphere Meteorology
The Centre was established in July, 1993 under the Australian
Government's Cooperative
Research Centres Program. The centre brings together Monash
University, the Bureau of Meteorology,
the CSIRO Divisions of Atmospheric Research
and Telecommunications and Industrial Physics and Silicon
Graphics Pty Ltd/Cray Research in a collaborative program of meteorological
research and education.
Located at Monash University, the CRC is one of the principal
centres in Australia for research and graduate training in the Meteorological
Sciences. Our understanding of climate variability and global change comes
from many sources: studies of past changes in the atmosphere and climate,
data from current observing systems and field experiments, and simulations
involving mathematical models. Each contributes to our knowledge of the
fundamental processes that control the physical, chemical and biological
components of the Earth system. Understanding these processes is essential
for improving the predictive models being developed to aid society and
to assist policy makers to plan for and minimise global change. Our Centre
is contributing to the international research effort to improve the understanding
of some of the key processes that govern the current state of the atmosphere
and its variability.
What is the Meteorology CRC?
The Cooperative Research Centre for Southern Hemisphere
Meteorology (Meteorology CRC) was established in July 1993 under Australian
Government's Cooperative Research Centres Program as a cooperative venture
between:
Immediate Goals
The Meteorology CRC seeks to build an understanding of
the key mechanisms governing the distribution and variability of stratospheric
ozone and of greenhouse gases, and the processes responsible for the climate
variation observed in the Southern Hemisphere. The emphasis of the research
is divided between mathematical modelling and the development of new observational
approaches to study the atmosphere. Both activities support the wider spectrum
of meteorological research within Australia.
Research Programs
Ozone (Program
A)
The substantial springtime loss of ozone in the lower
stratosphere over Antarctica was first reported in the mid 1980s. Since
that time, observational missions and laboratory studies have shown that
this depletion (which occurs during the transition from the cold polar
night to springtime) is caused by increased concentrations of chlorine-
and bromine-containing compounds derived from man-made chlorofluorocarbons
and halons. On time scales of days to weeks, the evolution and behaviour
of ozone in the Southern Hemisphere is strongly linked to the dynamics
and circulation of the stratosphere.
The Centre's research on ozone is focuessed on developing
the understanding of the processes that control ozone concentrations in
the Southern Hemisphere and developing models for prediction of stratospheric
ozone and surface ultraviolet (UV) radiation on time scales of a few days
to a season.
Transport Modelling (Program
B)
The atmospheric concentrations of the so-called greenhouse
gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, and of stratospheric
ozone have been affected by human activity over the last century. This
has led to changes in the Earth's radiation budget, including greenhouse
warming and increased UV radiation.
This Program is developing and applying atmospheric transport
and chemical modelling to the study of the distribution of trace gases
in the atmosphere, particularly greenhouse gases in the lower atmosphere
and ozone in the stratosphere. The results will be used to assist in the
development of long-term strategies to decrease greenhouse gas emissions
and ozone depletion.
Southern Hemisphere Climate Dynamics (Program
C)
The research in this Program complements ongoing climate
research of the CRC Partners. The Program aims to develop an improved scientific
basis for climate modelling and to conduct fundamental research into the
Southern Hemisphere general circulation necessary to provide a firm basis
for work on climate prediction. The research is focussed on the study of
the variability of the current climate on timescales of days to years and
the extent to which this variability is predictable. It provides a basis
for improving the forecasts of interannual climate variations due to the
El Niño, which causes droughts in Australia, and also of other phenomena
such as atmospheric blocking, midlatitude storms, intraseasonal variability
and the monsoon.
Modelling and Remote Sensing
Mathematical models underpin the research of each Program.
They provide the only rigorous means for developing quantitative projections
of the interactions between atmospheric composition, climate, sea level,
terrestrial and marine ecosystems, agriculture, water resources, and the
effects of human activities. Models and related analysis provide the predictive
link between the physical Earth system and the human dimensions of global
change, including economics, agriculture, social change, and resource use
and management. The research of the Meteorology CRC supports existing major
modelling efforts already underway in research groups in the Bureau of
Meteorology and in CSIRO.
Research on the use of satellite data to support all
levels of modelling is also an important activity of the Meteorology CRC.
New methods are presently being developed for the retrieval of ozone concentrations
from satellite data and for observing water vapour, clouds and precipitation
in support of climate variability studies in Program C. The measurement
of greenhouse gases and detection of their climate signatures are also
topics of active research.
Education (Program D)
Education activities are a vital part of the Centre and
build on the research activities of each CRC Partner. The Education Program
includes graduate student research opportunities leading to MSc and PhD
degrees across the whole field of atmospheric sciences, a comprehensive
coursework MSc in meteorology, links to undergraduate courses, schools-based
units and continuing professional education activities in meteorology.
Graduate scholarships are offered each year to new research students to
work on projects in the CRC research programs or in one of the CRC Partners.
Technology Transfer and Communication
One of the Centre's objectives is to communicate the
Centre's research outcomes in such a manner as to ensure that the maximum
benefit accrues to Australia, including Australian industry, the environment
and the economy generally. The Meteorology CRC is keen to grasp any commercial
opportunities that might be created or become available. It is expected
that such developments will be consistent with and beneficial to the agreed
Meteorology CRC mission and, through the CRC Partners, beneficial to the
nation.
Links
CRC for Southern
Hemisphere Meteorology Homepage
Monash University
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Professor David Karoly
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