Chapter 5 Climate Research

Introduction

The climate system is global and it encompasses physical, chemical, biological and ecological components, as well as interacting with the societal systems of humankind. Research on the climate system is therefore international and multidisciplinary by nature. As an island continent in the ocean-dominated southern hemisphere, Australia has a unique perspective on the global climate system and hence a unique contribution to make to climate research. Australian researchers make significant contributions to international climate research under the auspices of the World Climate Research Programme WCRP) and other climate-related programs such as the International Geosphere- Biosphere Programme (IGBP) and the International Human Dimensions Programme (IHDP). Australia benefits from its active involvement in these programs through access to the global knowledge- base of climate science and through influence on the scope and direction of international climate science. Climate research in Australia is carried out in many organisations, but the key contributors to international programs are the Bureau of Meteorology Research Centre BMRC), CSIRO Atmospheric Research CAR), CSIRO Marine Research (CMR), the Antarctic Climate and Ecology Cooperative Research Centre (ACE-CRC), the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) of the Department of Environment and Heritage, several universities and Government departments and agencies such as the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) and the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS). The Australian agencies and universities involved in climate activities, including research and impact assessment, are listed in Table 8.2 and their contact details are given in Appendix 2.

In addition to their direct contributions to the science, Australian researchers play a significant role in the planning and coordination of international climate research programs. Australian members of international climate-related committees and working groups, including those involved in research, are listed in Appendix 3.

This chapter summarises the Australian participation in international climate research programs during 2001-2003. While the focus is on WCRP-related research programs, a summary of activities related to IGBP is included.

Scope of climate research

Climate research relates primarily to investigations of the coupled atmosphere-oceanland- ice climate system, including quantifying and understanding its past, current and future states as well as the processes and feedbacks between the various elements and the forces that cause it to vary on scales from weeks to geological time scales.

Greenhouse research considers the causes and consequences of the enhancement of the natural greenhouse effect through changes in atmospheric concentrations of particular trace gases due to human activities. It ranges from evaluation of climate model output under scenarios of changing greenhouse gas concentrations and improved understanding of the chemistry of trace gases to understanding of the characteristics of trace gas emissions and research into energy technologies that will minimise the emission of greenhouse gases. Greenhouse research draws on the full scope of climate science but extends beyond the traditional boundaries of climate resources to cover agricultural, biological, economic and societal impacts of humaninduced climate change, as well as the human responses to those impacts.

The overlap between climate and greenhouse research is increasing as our understanding of the climate system extends to include more complex interactions, such as those between the global water cycle and the carbon cycle. Chapter 4 includes a summary of climate impacts and response studies, and in that context specifically addresses aspects of greenhouse research.