News
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An uncertain future for the Antarctic Slope Current
Scientists are working to better understand a risk to Antarctica’s future, after finding climate change could significantly alter the ocean current protecting the frozen continent from warmer waters further north. New research published in Geophysical Research Letters predicts the melting of Antarctic ice will alter the Antarctic Slope Current, estimating it will be around 50……
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A regional climate model for high-impact weather
Australia’s climate simulator (ACCESS-NRI) has released a fully supported version of a regional climate model that enables researchers to understand high-impact weather events like hurricanes, floods and droughts, which are not captured by the wide-angle lens of global climate models. Regional climate models are game changers when it comes to simulating high-impact weather events, and……
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Plant trees, add solar: How cities can fight urban heat
A combination of tree cover at street level and rooftop solar panels may be the best approach to combat urban heat in a warming climate, new research has indicated. Scientists from Canada, the United States, Spain and Australia looked at how three cities with different climates – Phoenix, Toronto, and Miami – can deal with……
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Understanding rainfall variability in the tropics
The tropics, located near the Equator, are known for their high temperatures and abundant rainfall. However, not all places in the tropics are equal, and one key reason for this is the distribution of water vapour, or humidity, across the globe, writes Monash University PhD student Corey Robinson. In general, air near the surface flows……
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Climate models are letting our cities down
Global climate models represent our coastal cities as oceans, while regional models fail to represent their true complexity, posing a barrier to future planning and resilience, writes 21st Century Weather Chief Investigator Negin Nazarian. In Australia, 87% of our population lives along the coast, most in cities that drive much of Australia’s economic activity. Understanding……