Benefits of Linking Modelling To Experimental Approaches – A Case Study For Wind Erosion
Speaker: John Leys and Harry Butler, Department of Natural Resources, Mathematics and Computing, USQ
When: 2006-10-25 11:00:00
Venue: T122, Toowomba Campus, USQ
Host: Michael de Raadt
Abstract: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.
Biography:(biography unavailable)
Type: USQ seminar
Contact:Michael de Raadt, seminar host (deraadt@usq.edu.au)
or Guido Governatori (ITEE seminar co-ordinator)
(guido@itee.uq.edu.au)