CSIRO has awarded a five-year research fellowship to Dr Wenju Cai to head up a new research team to conduct work into  better understanding the impact of climate change on Australia, with particular focus on the extremes of flooding and droughts around the country.

 

CSIRO Chief Executive, Dr Megan Clark, said there has never been a greater need for Australian science to secure its knowledge base with expanded observations and modelling expertise.

 

"Climate change and climate variability permeate  almost all aspects of the Australian lifestyle and its economic and environmental sectors.

 

Dr Cai said that the core of his research will involve detection and attribution of climate change in Australia and to determine normal weather patterns from abnormal climate change weather patterns.

 

"Climate change and climate variability permeate almost all aspects of the Australian lifestyle and its economic and environmental sectors,” Dr Cai said.

 

"There are gaps in the understanding science has of how ocean features such as the Indian Ocean Dipole, and El Nino/Southern Oscillation will respond to climate change.

 

"The opportunity to work with a team of young scientists to expand our knowledge base in this field will, I believe, bring returns for Australia," he said.