Rainfall

lake cave margaret river

South-west Australia relies on groundwater for three-quarters of its water use. But a new study of the region’s caves has found a drying climate is having a dramatic impact on this precious resource.

Gordon Dam

Industry-funded research says existing models for potential maximum rainfall are out of date and suggests existing dams are at greater risk due to spillway inadequacy.

Very ominous and dark rain clouds move in over the Sydney Harbour Bridge on an otherwise sunny day

The growing threat of flash flooding as a result of more intense rapid rain bursts means the city needs to update its flood defences.

Three kids on the back of a ute travelling down a long stretch of dirt road in central Australia

New research shows Australia experienced a number of megadroughts in the last 1000 years. We may be underestimating the severity of drought in Australia’s future.

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UNSW experts are available to comment on the recently announced third La Niña in as many years.

five people ride in on overloaded tinny through flood waters and rain

By following moisture from the oceans to the land, researchers worked out exactly how three oceans conspire to deliver deluges of rain to eastern Australia.

Two stalagmites in Yonderup Cave, Yanchep, Western Australia

To look inside a stalagmite is to look back in time tens of thousands of years to see how the Earth’s climate patterns have shaped the world we live in today.

filling a water bottle from a spring

Climate change and urbanisation are set to threaten groundwater drinking water quality, new research from UNSW Sydney shows.

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Global water supplies are shrinking, even as rainfall is rising. The culprit? The drying of soils due to climate change.

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A global analysis of rainfall and rivers by UNSW engineers has discovered a growing pattern of intense flooding in urban areas coupled with drier soils in rural and farming areas.

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