Dr Nicholas Klingaman,
National Centre for Atmospheric Science-Climate
Walker Institute for Climate System Research
University of Reading
Date/Time: Friday 17th Feb, 15:30 – 16:30
Location: IMAS Sandy Bay seminar room
Abstract:
The state of Queensland has experienced considerable inter-annual and decadal rainfall variations since reliable records began in the late 19th century. While the relationship between Queensland’s rainfall and the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is well-known, ENSO accounts for only 25% of the variance in state-averaged precipitation. This talk will explore the weather and climate phenomena that contribute to the remaining 75% of the variance in rainfall, and investigate how their influences vary across Queensland and throughout the annual cycle. The 90 km HiGEM model will be assessed for its ability to simulate these drivers and their impacts on Queensland rainfall in a present-day, “control” integration. Finally, a double-CO2 HiGEM integration will be used to demonstrate likely changes in these rainfall drivers in a warmer world. These results represent a key step towards understanding the impacts of climate change on climate variability in eastern Australia.