Totally Cooked: Episode 11 – Australia runs on weather

Australia’s economy, lifestyle, and ecosystems are powered by the weather, but climate change is reshaping this vital resource. In this episode, we dive into the science behind rainfall, sunshine, and wind as natural assets that fuel agriculture, energy, tourism, and daily life.

Climate scientist Associate Professor Ailie Gallant joins your co-hosts Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick and Iain Strachan to unpack how drought, shifting rainfall patterns, and solar variability are transforming Australia’s weather resources, and what it means for our future resilience.

Whether you’re curious about climate models, renewable energy, or the hidden value of everyday weather, this episode will change how you think about weather.

Show Notes

In this episode, we look at:

• Why Australia’s lifestyle and economy depend on everyday weather resources like rainfall, sunlight and wind
• How these weather resources power agriculture, energy generation, tourism, transport, health systems and more
• Why weather isn’t just background, it’s a natural asset we depend on, and it’s changing under climate change
• How scientists are redefining weather as a measurable resource, and the tools used to track and model it
• How drought, heat and shifting rainfall patterns are reshaping Australia’s weather resource base
• The role of advanced climate models, forecasting systems and national research infrastructure in understanding these changes
• What uncertainty looks like in a warming world: shifting wind patterns, changing rainfall timing and solar variability
• How different weather resources interact, and why this matters for resilience and planning
• The collaborations driving this work, from the Bureau of Meteorology to CSIRO, ACCESS-NRI, AEMO and leading universities
• Why securing Australia’s weather resources for the future means understanding them better, starting now

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This episode will be released and available to stream and download on Friday 24 October, 2025.

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Timestamps

00:00 – Cold open, “I’ve Got the Power” Sarah and Iain kick off with weather-themed pop songs and introduce the episode’s theme.

00:27 – Weather as a resource The hosts frame weather as more than a backdrop — it’s a powerful, yet finite, resource.

00:56 – Guest intro Meet Ailey Gallant, expert on drought and climate variability, leading the weather resources project.

01:22 – Weather nerd confessions Ailey shares her love of clouds and sleep-inducing weather chats.

03:37 – Sleep casts and sponsorship ideas From Headspace’s cat marina to podcast sponsorship dreams.

04:06 – Defining weather resources Ailey explains how everyday weather fuels our lives — from drying clothes to powering turbines.

05:29 – Reframing weather Why weather is usually a resource, not a hazard — despite current floods in NSW.

06:53 – Why now? Climate change is weather change — and we need to understand how our resources are shifting.

08:39 – Optimizing the grid How changing weather patterns affect solar and wind farm placement.

09:36 – A call from Lucia A brief interruption and a reminder that weather affects everything — even podcast recordings.

10:00 – Solar potential Ailey shares a mind-blowing stat: one patch of NT could power the world.

11:25 – Distributed networks Why spreading out solar and wind farms makes the grid more resilient.

12:49 – Planning renewables How transmission lines and topography shape Australia’s energy infrastructure.

14:15 – Data gaps The challenge of building robust datasets for wind and solar variability.

15:35 – Benchmarking and modeling The project’s goal: evaluate climate models and observational data for better planning.

16:04 – The ISP roadmap Australia’s ambitious plan for renewables by 2050 — and the data it’s missing.

17:21 – Australia’s weather wealth Ailey compares our solar, wind, and water resources to other countries.

19:12 – Timing matters Why rainfall timing — not just totals — is critical for agriculture.

20:37 – Heavy rain events Most of Australia’s rain comes from a handful of big days — and they’re changing.

23:13 – Monthly averages vs. weather Why focusing on weather timescales gives us better insights than seasonal averages.

24:09 – Observation challenges Australia’s declining surface observations and the need for more wind data.

25:37 – Satellite vs. surface Why we need both — and why long-term surface data is still essential.

26:30 – What is truth? A philosophical turn: multiple observations mean multiple “truths” in climate science.

27:45 – Wind data gaps We need the same multi-source approach for wind that we’ve used for temperature.

28:40 – Call to government Ailey urges more funding for surface stations to improve resource planning.

29:04 – Call to industry Private companies hold valuable data — and sharing it could benefit everyone.

30:02 – Project focus The team is studying water, wind, solar, and hydro — with an emphasis on variability.

31:25 – Weather systems and energy How pressure systems affect renewable energy generation.

32:46 – Predictability Can we forecast wind droughts or drought-breaking rains weeks or months ahead?

34:12 – Climate modes and skill El Niño and other patterns offer clues — but short-term prediction is still developing.

35:31 – Communication gaps Why people misinterpret weather probabilities — and how we can fix it.

36:30 – Probability confusion A student study reveals how poorly people understand rainfall forecasts.

38:19 – Risk vs. certainty Weather isn’t binary — and neither is climate change.

39:09 – App confusion Even educated users misread rainfall probabilities — it’s a communication challenge.

40:03 – Climate change and resources We know weather will change — but not exactly how, or how fast.

41:02 – Cultural weather From beach days to ski seasons, weather shapes Australian identity.

42:54 – Intangible resources Tourism, lifestyle, and national pride — all tied to weather.

43:53 – Fire weather and intrinsic value Expanding fire seasons threaten more than just infrastructure.

44:44 – Who we work with Government, industry, BOM, and international partners — collaboration is key.

46:33 – Weather resources: a new term Why “weather resources” is a 21st Century Weather invention — and why it’s catching on.

48:51 – Sheltering vs. harnessing We’ve always hidden from weather — now we need to use it.

50:12 – Adapting to climate change Harnessing weather resources is key to thriving in a warming world.

51:36 – Closing the loop Why collaboration and communication are essential — no more “love letters to ourselves.”

52:58 – What can you do? From rooftop solar to noticing the weather — how individuals can engage.

54:21 – Weather footprint Ailey proposes a “weather resources footprint” to track our daily dependence.

56:16 – Hills hoist 101 A cultural primer for international listeners — and a few backyard memories.

57:09 – Water habits How Australians conserve water — and how weather shapes those habits.

58:04 – Simpsons reference Weather vs. whether — and a spelling bee joke to wrap things up.

59:40 – Outro Weather isn’t just a backdrop — it’s a resource. Next episode: climate psychology.

Further Reading

ACCESS-NRI. (n.d.). Australia’s Climate and Earth System Simulator. National Research Infrastructure. https://www.access-nri.org.au/

Bureau of Meteorology. (n.d.). Climate and Weather Services. Bureau of Meteorology Climate Services Team. http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/

Bureau of Meteorology. (n.d.). Drought. Bureau of Meteorology. http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/drought/

Climate Council. (2024). 2024’s climate crisis: extreme weather around the globe. Climate Council Research Team. https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/2024s-climate-crisis-extreme-weather-around-the-globe/

CSIRO & Bureau of Meteorology. (n.d.). State of the Climate. Australian Government Scientists. https://www.csiro.au/en/research/environmental-impacts/climate-change/state-of-the-climate

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). (2021). IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (WG1): Summary for Policymakers. https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/downloads/report/IPCC_AR6_WGI_SPM.pdf

Monash University. (n.d.). Dr Ailie Gallant Profile. School of Earth, Atmosphere & Environment. https://research.monash.edu/en/persons/ailie-gallant

National Computational Infrastructure (NCI Australia). (n.d.). Gadi Supercomputer. NCI Operations Team. https://nci.org.au/our-systems/hpc-systems

Productivity Commission. (2014). Natural disaster funding and the role of weather data. Australian Government. https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/completed/disaster-funding/report

ScienceBrief. (n.d.). Is drought increasing due to climate change? International Climate Science Panel. https://sciencebrief.org/briefs/drought

21st Century Weather. (n.d.). Weather Resources Research Project. Research Team. https://21centuryweather.org.au/our-research/weather-resources/

Why listen to Totally Cooked?

Because it’s time to feel empowered, not overwhelmed. Totally Cooked is a science-backed, straight-talking podcast about weather, climate change, and what it all means for life on Earth – especially here in Australia.

Hosted by climate scientist Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick and science communicator Iain Strachan, Totally Cooked breaks down how human activity is changing the Earth’s systems—from our skies to our seas—and what we can do about it.

From greenhouse gases to fire weather, supercomputers to Antarctic ice cores, this is climate science without the jargon, and where no subject is too complex or controversial.

Totally Cooked is for anyone who wants to understand the science of climate change—without needing a PhD. Whether you’re a high school student, policy maker, journalist, teacher, concerned citizen or just a little climate-curious, this podcast will give you the tools to think clearly and act confidently.

• Cut through the noise with clear, honest science.
• Understand the why behind climate change;
• Learn how climate change impacts real-world weather;
• Hear from the best researchers and scientists in their field and from around the world;

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