Issue 263 Extreme events
The summer of 2019-20 has seen bushfires, floods, drought, heat extremes and severe hail of such ferocity that it is changing how Australians experience, and talk about, weather and climate. Throughout January and February 2020, ECOS has shared science stories about extreme events, and our role in understanding them and supporting our nation prepare for the future.
Understanding complex interactions the key to the freshwater croc’s future
A failure to grasp the details of the life of freshwater crocodiles in the places they live is likely to bedevil their conservation.
Day Zero and pathways to water security for regional towns
Day Zero marks the day when residential taps are turned off — a reality for some regional and rural towns across Australia. When this current drought breaks, we can’t lose sight of the fact that another drought will inevitably come. We have to prepare for water security now.
A changing climate could challenge our understanding of bushfires as ‘carbon neutral’ events
Australia’s fire season isn’t over yet, but a significant flux of greenhouse gases have already been released into the atmosphere. Our scientists have been exploring their impact.
Climate intel for the future
Climate modelling increases our understanding of the impacts of climate change including risk of fire, flood and cyclones. But can we rely on climate projections to manage future risk?
Three practical ways to support Indigenous landscape burning in Australia
How can we support cross-cultural Indigenous fire partnerships to manage Australia's landscape?
Managing environmental change is key to preventing animal-borne disease outbreaks around the world
Coronavirus (Covid-19) is the latest in a series of diseases transmitted to humans from wild animals in recent years. Fellow diseases including Ebola, SARS, Zika and MERS have also terrorised countries around the world, and their emergence stems from complex interactions among wild and/or domestic animals and humans.
Bushfires and climate change Q&A with Dr Michael Grose
Australia is in the midst of an unfolding extreme bushfire season, with far-reaching impacts for many communities across the nation, particularly in the southern and eastern areas. We wanted to check in with one of CSIRO’s senior climate researchers, Dr Michael Grose, to understand how extreme events like bushfires are linked to climate change, and where science leads to certainty in our understanding and where there are more research questions to be explored.
Let’s talk about Glossy Black-Cockatoos, their food and fires
Kangaroo Island’s Glossy Black-Cockatoos are at risk due to the Australian bushfires. What are the issues?
Fast moving fires and the science of prediction
The arsenal of tools to predict and alert the community of advancing fires is the product of close to 70 years of dedicated bushfire science.