Much Rain Mate?
Understanding Weather Patterns for Drought Resilience: Insights from the Goondiwindi Event
On May 29th, the SQNNSW Innovation Hub’s node manager in Stanthorpe Wim Linstrom, in collaboration with the Macintyre Ag Alliance and Southern Queensland Landscapes (Lorinda Otto), hosted an insightful breakfast event at the Goondiwindi CUltural Centre. The event, ‘Much Rain Mate’, featured Vicki Mayne, a beef producer, and Climate Program Officer with the Northern Australia Climate Program. Vicki shared her expertise on the importance of understanding weather patterns and predictions to enhance planning and resilience among farmers.
Reading Weather Predictions
Accurate weather predictions are essential for effective farm management. By leveraging advanced meteorological tools and techniques, farmers can access reliable forecasts that help them make informed decisions. For instance, knowing when a dry spell is expected can prompt farmers to implement water-saving measures, while anticipating heavy rainfall can lead to adjustments in planting schedules.
Insights from Vicki Mayne
At the event, Vicki Mayne emphasized the importance of marrying seasonal forecast knowledge with economic and practical applications. She highlighted how understanding weather patterns can lead to sustainable growth and productivity. Vicki’s insights underscored the need for farmers to stay informed about weather predictions and incorporate this knowledge into their daily operations avoid the headlines and use the newfound skills to plan better.
Vicki spoke to us about the ‘Climate Dog’s’. These dogs help us understand some of our climate drivers in a relatable way. Vicki has an engaging way of communicating with us and one such way is getting volunteers to dance to highlight one or more drivers (eg ocean and atmosphere) working together will increase the likelihood of a climatic event.
1. ENSO (El Niño Southern Oscillation): Influences climate over winter and spring. During La Niña, it brings more rain, while during El Niño, it results in drier periods.
2. IOD (Indian Ocean Dipole): Influences rainfall in winter and spring. When the north-eastern Indian Ocean is warmer, it brings more rain to Victoria.
3. MJO (Madden Julian Oscillation): A group of rain showers and thunderstorms that moves eastward into the Pacific, causing extreme weather conditions.
4. SAM (Southern Annular Mode): Herds cold fronts up from the Southern Ocean, affecting Victoria’s rainfall. Its behavior can change in a matter of weeks.
5. Ridgy: Represents high-pressure systems, which are often associated with clear skies and calm weather. When Ridgy is strong, it can block the passage of cold fronts and reduce rainfall.
6. Eastie: Represents the Eastern Australian Rainfall Gradient, which is the change in rainfall from the east to the west of Australia. Eastie can influence the distribution of rainfall across the continent.
These “Climate Dogs” are crucial for understanding weather patterns and making accurate weather predictions, which can help farmers plan better for a season.
Vicki also treated us to a fascinating experiment to demonstrate the impact of sea temperatures on weather patterns. By filling a large rectangular bucket with water and placing a cup of warm water at one end and a cup of cold water at the other. Above each cup, she placed cotton wool to represent clouds. Then adding food dye to the water to visualize the movement caused by the temperature differences.
This experiment was a simple yet effective demonstration of how sea temperatures can influence weather patterns. When the sea is warmer (as represented by the warm cup), it heats the air above it, causing it to rise and form clouds, which can lead to rainfall.
This concept is helpful in understanding weather patterns in Australia, where phenomena like the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) play significant roles. Understanding these patterns can help farmers better prepare for potential drought conditions.
Conclusion
The event organized by the SQNNSW Innovation Hub, Macintyre Ag Alliance, and Southern Queensland Landscapes was a valuable opportunity for farmers to learn about the critical role of weather patterns and predictions in enhancing drought resilience. By staying informed and proactive, farmers can better navigate the challenges posed by changing weather conditions and ensure the sustainability of their operations.
Visit:
• SQNNSW Innovation Hub | UniSQ
• https://nacp.org.au/outreaches/profile?profile=Vicki%20Mayne
