Thursday, 13 September 2012
Research objective
Improve understanding of the variability and changing nature of frost risk at both seasonal and decadal scales for the southern regions of Australia, and implications for the wine and grain industries.
Project duration
2010 – 2012
Progress to date
We have completed a spatial analysis of frost trends and have observed trends in minimum temperatures, number of frosts, cold-wave duration, and frost-season length.
An analysis of the major synoptic drivers of frost is under way. We are examining data from 6 climate stations in north-west Victoria for the period 1956–2010 along with preliminary analyses forlocations in New South Wales and Western Australia.
We have assessed the interaction between changing frost risk and changing responses in grain phenology for 17 sites across the Victorian region. For each site, we have calculated the probabilities of frost occurrence.
Research contact
Dr Steven Crimp
CSIRO
Phone: 02 6242 1649