Climate change
How to work out which coral reefs will bleach, and which might be spared
A paper published in Nature Climate Change has revealed the importance of regional differences in sea surface temperature variability in determining the global distribution of coral bleaching risk.
Improving crop projections in a warmer world
Crop yield models might not sound like traditional ag hardware but they've become a key tool in a modern farmer’s kit. They're as good as they are accurate, and new research is focusing on making them more responsive to climate change.
Spotting algal blooms from space
In a world first, a satellite-based algal bloom alert system has been developed for inland water bodies - a giant leap forward from individually testing each dam, river or lake across the countryside, and allowing for a much quicker response.
Mapping fire-prone areas before the fires
Portugal has again been in the grip of wildfires this northern summer. The devastating human and financial toll of bushfires is felt across the globe. In Australia, CSIRO is using expert knowledge and the latest technology to pinpoint areas at risk so they can be better managed into the future.
Extreme El Niño events to stay despite stabilisation
The frequency of extreme El Niño events is projected to increase for a further century after global mean temperature is stabilised at 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
The changing life of Antarctica’s ice-free ‘islands’
Warmer temperatures mean more ice-free areas and increasing terrestrial habitat in Antarctica, but that’s not necessarily good news for Antarctic natives.
Where science and nations united over oceans
Our ‘blue planet’ is made up of one continuous ocean, not five separate oceans. The first UN Ocean Conference broke down barriers between developed and developing nations, science and government, government and the private sector, and corporate and community interests. Here's a ringside insight into what it all means.
New research centre focuses on the ‘ocean hemisphere’
It is now recognised that the world's oceans play a pivotal role in climate. China and Australia are collaborating with a $20-million investment in a new research centre that will examine the importance of southern hemisphere oceans and how they influence climate change.
Coral reefs need cooler water
The only way to prevent further severe coral bleaching on the world’s tropical reefs is to urgently reduce global warming, a new study reveals.