19/01/2006 - The Hon Greg
Hunt MP, Parliamentary Secretary with ministerial
responsibility for the Bureau of Meteorology,
Mr David Tollner MP, Federal Member for
Solomon and Mr John Forrest MP, Federal
Member for Mallee jointly launched the opening
of the Tropical Warm Pool International
Cloud Experiment (TWP-ICE) in Darwin today.
The Tropical Warm Pool International Cloud
Experiment is the largest international
weather experiment to ever take place in
Australia. It will give scientists an insight
into the inner workings of cloud systems
and the world's climate system. Many of
the world's leading climate researchers,
hailing from over ten countries and thirty
research institutions, will spend a month
in Darwin conducting the experiment.
"This is an exciting international
weather experiment that will provide valuable
information to ultimately improve weather
and climate forecasting.
It is the culmination of over three years
of planning that brings together over two
hundred participants. The Bureau of Meteorology
is a major player in both the planning and
collection of the data with many of its
key scientists taking part," Mr Hunt
said.
Federal Member for Solomon, David Tollner
MP, said the arrival of world class scientists
in Darwin would provide an opportunity for
scientists in Darwin to showcase the local
environment.
"Darwin provides a fantastic natural
laboratory for meteorological research.
The results obtained during this experiment,
together with regular monitoring in the
area, will produce one of the most complete
sets of tropical convection data ever collected,"
Mr Tollner said.
Mr Tollner's comments were echoed by Federal
Member for Mallee, Mr John Forrest MP who
has been working with Mr Hunt as a champion
for weather research and climate modelling.
"Weather balloons will be launched
every three hours from five sites to collect
information on the heat and water exchange
in the atmosphere.
Intensive measurements will be taken in
and around the clouds using several research
aircraft supported by ground and sea-based
radar, and weather satellites. Australia's
National Facility for Marine Research, the
research vessel Southern Surveyor, will
be positioned west of Darwin and will observe
the interaction of the clouds and the oceans,"
Mr Forrest said.
The TWP-ICE partners include the Bureau
of Meteorology, CSIRO, Airborne Research
Australia, the US Department of Energy Atmospheric
Radiation Measurement (ARM) Program, NASA
, and a consortium of universities in Australia,
the US, Canada, Japan and Europe. The experiment
will be supported by the RAAF.
The Tropical Warm Pool International Cloud
Experiment will take place from the 19th
January to the 16th February and will focus
on a 250-kilometre radius around Darwin.
The official opening ceremony will be at
9am, the Truscott Club, RAAF Base, Darwin.
Further information can be accessed from
http://www.bom.gov.au/bmrc/wefor/research/twpice.htm
