The Managing Climate Variability Program is seeking expressions of interest from research organisations to undertake a project of up to $200,000 that will summarise the state of knowledge regarding the key 'drivers' or determinants of Australian climate on a regional basis together with an evaluation of their current and future predictability.

The Managing Climate Variability Program is a collaboration between government and industry research and development investors based on more than a decade of climate applications research. It aims to deliver tools for improving climate risk management, particularly more useful and accurate seasonal forecasts with longer lead times than are currently available.

This one-year research project will be used to foster better understanding of Australia's variable climate at a regional scale and will also be a major input to structuring our research activities to improve seasonal forecasting skill. Seasonal climate is made up of a sequence of synoptic weather events.

The frequency and intensity of these events varies from year to year, and is influenced by many factors. Clarifying the relative importance of these factors, spatially and temporarily to provide a regional understanding of Australia's climate is the aim of this project.

For more information download:

 Regional Climate Drivers Project - Terms of Reference (pdf - 58KB)

 Regional Climate Drivers Project - Application Form Guidelines (pdf - 136KB)

 Regional Climate Drivers Project Application Form (Word document - 276KB)

Enquiries should be directed to Colin Creighton, on mobile 0418 225 894 or email colin.creighton@lwa.gov.au.

Proposals must be lodged by 5pm Monday 20 November 2006 to:

Ben Bryant 
Land & Water Australia,
GPO Box 2182,
Canberra ACT 2601.