Wednesday 5 December 2007

MEDIA RELEASE

New centre to focus on climate and weather research

The Bureau of Meteorology Research Centre and CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research have joined forces to focus their weather and climate research efforts into a new joint research centre. Staff are located primarily in Melbourne, Canberra and Hobart, as well as Perth, Brisbane and Darwin.

The Centre for Australian Weather and Climate Research will provide a coordinated approach to the critically important areas of weather and climate research in Australia. The Centre is an equal partnership between the Bureau and CSIRO. Weather and climate researchers from both organisations will work side-by-side to unlock the mysteries of climate change and to investigate the resulting challenges and opportunities.

Foundation Director Dr Chris Mitchell said today: “The Centre for Australian Weather and Climate Research will combine the vast climate expertise of the Bureau and CSIRO to become an important centre of research excellence. Australia has been at the forefront of climate and weather research and the evolving science of Earth systems for many years. The new joint approach provides a strong focus for climate research that will be absolutely critical for the future of Australia and the world.”

The science undertaken within the Centre will be applied across a wide variety of areas beyond climate change such as ocean prediction, seasonal climate prediction, air quality, severe weather and water management. Researchers from the Centre will have access to new super-computing facilities and are developing the Australian Community Climate and Earth-System Simulator.

“These new facilities will provide weather and climate researchers with the opportunity to take a holistic approach to their research to better capture climate processes involving the ocean, carbon cycle, sea-ice, and cloud chemistry,” Dr Mitchell said.

The Centre’s researchers will also work with the UK Met Office’s high-powered computer-based weather and climate prediction program and adapt it to Australian conditions.

Further information:
Dr Chris Mitchell, Centre for Australian Weather and Climate Research, 03 9239 4673; 0408 406 160
Dr Helen Cleugh, Centre for Australian Weather and Climate Research, 02 6246 5574; 0418 214 681
Dr Tom Keenan, Centre for Australian Weather and Climate Research, 03 9669 4483; 0418 509 582

Media assistance:
Rob Morton, Bureau of Meteorology, 0417 508 055
Craig Macaulay, CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, 03 6232 5219; 0419 966 465
David Grant, Media Relations Adviser, Bureau of Meteorology, mob: 0439 452 424

Website:
www.cawcr.gov.au/

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