An exciting opportunity is available to study the extremes in Australia's variable rainfall. 

This project will address questions about the range and causes of Australia’s variable rainfall. Australia experiences highly variable rainfall, which is influenced by both unforced climate variability and anthropogenic climate forcings. Hydrological extremes, such as drought and floods, have high socio-economic costs for Australia, so understanding the range of variability and processes that cause changes is critical. 

This PhD project will investigate the influence of anthropogenic (e.g. greenhouse gases, aerosols and land use change) and natural (volcanic eruptions and solar variability) climate forcings on hydrological trends and extremes. Using climate models, observations and long-term palaeoclimate records, this project will investigate the processes behind recently observed hydroclimatic events in Australia, such as the persistent decline in rainfall in southwestern Western Australia, the extended Millennium Drought in southeastern Australia and the record eastern Australian rains in 2011. 

Further information is available, including how to apply is available on the Fenner School of Environment & Society website.