- Title:
-
Cold-frontal bushfire winds and computer forecast models
- Date:
- March 2010
- Authors:
- Dr Graham Mills, Bushfire CRC Project Leader and Senior Researcher at the Bureau of Meteorology.
Overview
This research has developed a new model to better forecast cold fronts – and outcome that will help better protect communities and firefighters. The work was completed through extensive study that has led to a better understanding of the complex phenomenon of cold fronts. This research has focused on understanding two things. Firstly, the physical processes that cause cold-frontal wind changes to be what they are – why sometimes they are abrupt, why sometimes more gradual, why some have sustained strong winds after the change (Ash Wednesday 1983) and some do not (Black Friday 1939). Secondly, how to verify forecasts of wind change timing at observation sites and from computer forecast models.
