Dr Richard Thornton opening the Research Advisory Forum in Perth
Research improving scientific understanding and predication capability around severe weather was shared at the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC Extreme Weather RAF in Perth.
More than 60 delegates came together at the Department of Fire and Emergency Services Western Australia on 30 July for research presentations and discussions in breakout groups. The research presented has improved the ability to understand, predict and monitor severe and high impact weather, and is fundamental to emergency service agencies providing appropriate warnings and taking mitigation actions.
CRC researcher Dr Jeff Kepert, from Bureau of Meteorology, shared how the project Improved predictions of severe weather to reduce community impact is allowing severe weather forecasters at the Bureau of Meteorology to identify conditions in which fires may form pyrocumulonimbus clouds and red flags this for agencies. This use enables validation of the science and is building familiarity among users.
Prof Alan March from the University of Melbourne shared how the CRC project Urban planning for natural hazard mitigation has explored ways to integrate urban planning with natural hazards management to reduce risk. The impact of severe weather is changing as the context of human settlements shifts. With increased density and sprawl, a rapidly growing population and increasing social isolation, the challenge of complex and cascading natural hazards is intensified.
The RAF enabled researchers and end-user representatives to develop ideas for short- and long-term research utilisation projects. Participant feedback so far indicates strong interest in exploring how the work presented can be adopted.