51³Ô¹Ïapp

51³Ô¹Ïapp

Personalise
High-Resolution Planet Earth view. The World Globe from Space in a star field showing the terrain and clouds. Elements of this image are furnished by NASA

UNSW CCRC is a multi-disciplinary research centre comprising one of the largest university research facilities of its kind in Australia, administered within the School of BEES in the Faculty of Science.

CCRC houses research expertise in the key areas of Earth’s climate: atmospheric, oceanic and terrestrial processes. We apply basic scientific principles to pressing questions on climate dynamics, global climate change, and extremes of weather and climate.

Our atmosphere research includes studies of large scale dynamics, convection, radiation, climate feedbacks, and factors controlling precipitation changes and other meteorological impacts.

Our oceanographic research focuses on the ocean’s role in the climate system: including large-scale physical oceanography, coupled climate modes and regional ocean circulation, palaeoclimate dynamics, the ocean’s thermohaline circulation, global biogeochemical cycles and climate changes in Earth’s past.

On the land surface, we focus on modelling terrestrial processes in climate models to develop our understanding of the effects of carbon dynamics, hydrology and vegetation processes on climate.

Scientists at CCRC employ a variety of research tools including global and regional models of the atmosphere, ocean and land surface, coastal domain simulations and process models. We also use a great variety of data collected from satellites, radars, ships, weather stations, eddy-flux towers and aircraft from regions as diverse as the Great Barrier Reef, the tropics, urban surfaces, the Tasman Sea and Antarctica.

Atmospheric research

Large scale dynamics, convection, radiation, climate feedbacks, and factors controlling precipitation changes and other meteorological impacts.

Oceanographic research

Physical oceanography, coupled climate modes & regional ocean circulation, palaeoclimate dynamics, the ocean's thermohaline circulation, global biogeochemical cycles & past climate changes.

Land surface research

Modelling terrestrial processes in climate models to develop our understanding of the effects of carbon dynamics, hydrology and vegetation processes on climate.

Via the CCRC, UNSW leads the , a multi-university initiative to advance fundamental climate sciences in Australia formed in 2017. 

The CCRC also houses the UNSW node of , focussing on how  Australia's weather is being reshaped by climate change. 

Additionally, CCRC researchers are associated with the , aiming to deepen our understanding of the Antarctic environment, its ecosystems, and the global processes it influences.

The CCRC is home to UNSW's Weather and Climate node of the  which integrates scientific research with practical applications, supporting communities, emergency services, and governments in building resilience against bushfires, floods, and other natural disasters.

Researchers at the CCRC are also part of the , a UNSW initiative that brings the world's leading climate and environmental research universities together in a coalition of 48 member institutions, spanning every region on earth.

Most of our research applies maths and/or physics. The CCRC and School of Physics now have a joint arrangement to promote cooperation in teaching, supervision and research. Please contact us for more details! 

Our people

Interested in being part of the Climate Change Research Centre? We have honours projects, PhD projects and undergraduate courses available.

Strategic plan

The CCRC will be a world leading research centre in physical and biogeochemical climate science, and educate the Australian and global community about risks associated with climate variability and change.
opens in a new window

Contact us

How to get in touch and where to find us on campus.