World-leading Swinburne research will influence climate modelling

Acacia species in arid Australia. Credit: Mark Adams.
In summary
- Restoring acacia woodlands would be by far the best way to capture carbon from the atmosphere in outback Australia
- New data about the ability of trees and vegetation to acquire carbon and contribute to rainfall is likely to have major implications for climate modelling
- The research will help improve rainfall predictor models, especially in tropical zones
Ground-breaking research about the ability of trees and vegetation to acquire carbon and contribute to rainfall is likely to have major implications for climate modelling.
Published in one of the world’s leading science journals, the research – led by Swinburne University of Technology’s Professor of BioScience and Innovation, Mark Adams – is the culmination of three years’ work and is the third major study his group has published.
Professor Adams says their latest study shows that in dry climates like Australia, trees and other forms of vegetation respond to rising carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by increasing their efficiency in using water to acquire carbon.
'Vegetation that thrives in drier climates, like Acacia woodlands found throughout inland Australia, are particularly well placed to increase their carbon capture efficiencies,' says Professor Adams.
'They have the ability to acquire nitrogen from the atmosphere, bypassing soil nitrogen.'
Expanding data collection beyond Europe and the United States
These findings counter previous understandings of water use efficiency, which were based largely on research in Europe and the eastern USA, where humid conditions and histories of nitrogen pollution mask the underlying effects of aridity.
The majority of the world’s terrestrial surfaces are considered arid and lack the nitrogen pollution found in Europe and the USA.
Redefining climate models that predict rainfall
The Swinburne research is also significant for climate models used to predict future rainfall, which is critical for tropical regions where rainfall can be dictated by terrestrial conditions, not necessarily by oceans.
'Water use efficiency is now built into most modern climate models used to predict future rainfall. The greater understanding of how water use efficiency in trees and vegetation varies across the globe will help improve the models,' says Professor Adams.
Huge leap forward in availability of data
Data was painstakingly collected from 343 individual sources and more than 10,000 observations of the abundance of stable isotopes of carbon. The public availability of the data collected by Professor Adams and his research group will improve the scientific community’s ability to rapidly and positively influence climate modelling into the future.
Nature Communications science journal
This research was published in Nature Communications, which is an open access, multidisciplinary journal dedicated to publishing high-quality research in all areas of the biological, health, physical, chemical and Earth sciences. Papers published by the journal aim to represent important advances of significance to specialists within each field.
-
Media Enquiries
Related articles
-
- Student News
- Technology
- Sustainability
Automated composting system wins Swinburne’s ‘Design for Change’ competition
An automated composting system designed by Bachelor of Computer Science students has won Swinburne’s 2022 ‘Design for Change’ competition.
Friday 03 June 2022 -
- Science
- Sustainability
The colours of hydrogen explained
We hear more about hydrogen every day. But did you know that there are eight different colours? We break down each type of hydrogen, from most to least sustainable.
Tuesday 17 May 2022 -
- Education
- Science
Chief Scientist celebrates women in maths
Swinburne Chief Scientist Professor Virginia Kilborn highlights some of the amazing Swinburne academics and graduates who are making their mark on world with maths.
Wednesday 11 May 2022 -
- Education
- Science
- University
Inspiring Pasifika youth to next gen careers
A new Swinburne-led project will help inspire and support Pasifika youth as they follow new careers paths across design, media innovation, sport, STEM and the hydrogen economy.
Thursday 07 April 2022 -
- Health
- Science
Getting on the same wavelength with community mental health
A new radio program developed by Swinburne's Department of Psychological Services and Radio Eastern FM is making waves in the local community.
Wednesday 20 April 2022