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Climate Variability & Climate Change

- build resilience to climate variability and adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change.

Improving Prediction of the Northern Australian Wet Season
 
This project is being conducted within the Managing Climate Variability (MCV) R&D programme and aims to improve wet season forecasting and provide forecasts for rainfall thresholds according to land types. Forecasting active and break periods of the wet season, rainfall volumes and timing, and indications of the timing of the last wet burst are also part of the work. The research group is determining how the research results can be packaged to meet the needs of each industry.

A summary of the project can be downloaded here

Defeating the Autumn Predictability Barrier

This project, being carried out by SRDC, started in 2006 and aims to develop a methodology that can make outputs from a long lead climate forecasting model relevant and useful to the sugar industry. It will test the skillfulness of the long lead climate forecasting model for a range of a sugarcane growing regions in Queensland and NSW and assess industry demand for a climate forecasting model that can predict the chance of rain during the second half of the harvest season, early in the year.

Access the project summary page here

Native Vegetation & Biodiversity R&D program

There are currently two projects within the Native Vegetation & Biodiversity R&D Program which deal with climate change:

1. Working with indigenous communities to manage fire in tropical woodlands for improved ecological, economic and social outcomes
This project will build on recent success in engaging with indigenous communities to improve fire management of northern Australian tropical woodlands through payment for environmental services (carbon offsets).

2. Using spatial variation in climate and vegetation growth to improve rangeland management
This project will develop analytical tools to assist cattle producers in northern Australia decide where additional grazing properties or sources of agistment might be best located to help minimise the impacts of climate variability.

Further details on these projects can be accessed via the Native Vegetation & Biodiversity R&D webpages or download a program brochure here

Cotton Research and Development Corporation Grains Research and Development Corporation Fisheries Research and Development Corporation Land & Water Australia Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Sugar Research and Development Corporation Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation