Lead researcher: Prof Hamish McGowan and Dr Adrien Guyot

Bushfires (Wildfires) present a wide range of risks to society, the environment and fire fighting personnel. These risks arise from meteorological hazards caused by fire-atmosphere interaction. They include extreme straight-line winds, fire tornadoes, ember attack and spotting, and lightning with such hazards often linked to the formation of fire triggered thunderstorms. Understanding these hazards and the risks they present is a major research challenge, but essential to the development of the capability to predict their occurrence and issue accurate and timely warnings to save lives, property and the environment.     

Starting in 2022, a new multi-year research program funded by Google through the Tides Foundation will develop a world first bushfire nowcasting capability. Using mobile weather radar and artificial intelligence the project will develop the capability to deploy mobile weather radar in proximity to active bushfires to identify in real-time fire triggered meteorological hazards so warnings can be issued of their nature and impact. The research will involve close collaboration with the Australian Bureau of Meteorology and State fire agencies, initially in Queensland, but then including New South Wales and Victoria.