Weather and Environmental Prediction (WEP): Research Areas
- To develop, assess and test global, regional and mesoscale weather prediction systems, in concert with the Earth System Modelling (ESM) program;
- To conduct research on regional climate modelling techniques and provide best possible regional climate change information;
- To increase the range, quality and availability of environmental forecasts available to the Australian community and industry, especially those related to:
- air quality (particularly, wind-blown dust, bushfire smoke and urban pollutants)
- atmospheric aspects of bio-security ( eg air-borne viruses)
- emerging renewable energy markets.
- To integrate advances in the science of chemical and environmental prediction with the ACCESS system to produce new products and services that improves the management of the atmospheric environment and reduces the social and economic costs of unacceptable air quality;
- Progress the science of very short term forecasting and support the development and application of nowcasting techniques and related procedures in the Bureau;
- To provide support for the aviation industry through research into improved weather and warning services;
- To advance the science of the weather forecast process through the development of new forecast systems and procedures, and apply these techniques for use within the Bureau public weather services;
- To undertake studies of rainfall characteristics, quantitative precipitation forecasts, and consequent hydrological impacts;
- To conduct research on physical parameterisation for atmospheric modelling;
- To develop and apply ensemble weather prediction techniques for decision making in weather-sensitive industries;
- To improve understanding of tropical cyclone dynamics and predictability; and
- To utilise the ACCESS system to upgrade the Bureau's flood forecasting capability so as to provide a more integrated approach to the delivery of Bureau services.