Department of Mathematics and Computing Seminars

In recent years, considerable effort has been made in constructing integrated dust modelling systems which couple modules for atmospheric, land-surface and aeolian processes with land-surface parameter databases. The aim has been to capture the main processes and environmental factors for dust-storm development, transport and deposition. Integrated modelling of Australian dust storms has only been carried out a few times in Australia, notably (Shao and Leslie 1997) and (Shao et al. 2006).

Both these studies reported a lack of experimental data were available to validate the model against. The most extensive observational data set available is that of the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) which contains data on wind erosion activity across Australia for the last 45 years and at selected locations, records go back over 100 years. These formal meteorological records have been used to map wind erosion activity in Australia since the early work of (McTainsh and Pitblado 1987) and have since been quality assessed, refined and stored in the Australian Dust Event Database (DEDB) at Griffith University. As Leys et al (2006) report, the DEDB has significant gaps in the data, both temporally and spatially, and they have established DustWatch in an attempt to resolve some of these problems.

We are now at the point of being able to link the modelling with experimental data thus increasing the value of both products. This approach has been acknowledged by Catchment Management Authorities (CMA) who are supporting DustWatch, the Desert Knowledge CRC who are co-funding the modelling with the CMAs and the Land and Water Audit, who is funding trails that will test the functionality of the DustWatch / modelling approach to monitoring and resource assessment .

This presentation will discuss the benefits of combining modelling and experimental observations for the monitoring and understanding of wind erosion in Australia.