![Professor Hamish McGowan](/sites/default/files/profiles/1037.jpeg)
Overview
Background
Professor Hamish McGowan is a Geographer and Professor of Atmospheric and Climate Sciences with research interests in: Local and regional scale windfields in complex terrain, Severe weather (thunderstorms, bushfire meteorology), Earth surface – atmosphere energy and trace gas exchanges, Aeolian dust transport (meteorological controls on wind erosion, dust transport and the impacts on regional and global climate dynamics), Palaeoclimate reconstructions, Mountain meteorology and hydroclimate. He leads the Atmospheric Observations Research Group https://sites.google.com/view/uqaorg/home
Hamish received his PhD from the University of Canterbury in 1995. His research interests are in the fields of:
- Meteorological hazards
- Earth surface - atmosphere interactions and energetics
- The Weather and Climates of Alpine and Mountainous Regions
- Long Range Dust Transport and Climate Impacts
- Climate dynamics
- Palaeoclimate reconstruction
Availability
- Professor Hamish McGowan is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science, University of Canterbury
- Masters (Research) of Science, University of Canterbury
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Canterbury
Research interests
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Earth surface – atmosphere energetics
This field of research investigates Earth surface – atmosphere interactions over complex terrain in marine, coastal, mountain and desert environments. Collectively, this research aims to shed new light on thermodynamic behaviour of the lower atmosphere under different weather patterns, teleconnection variability, and the effects of land use heterogeneity. The research has involved significant collaborations with the Centre for Atmospheric Research, University of Canterbury, NZ; the Byrd Polar Research Centre, Ohio State University; Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, USA and the Geological Survey of Israel. At UQ collaboration has been with the School of Civil Engineering and Advanced Water Management Centre. Notable research in this field has resulted in fundamental advances in understanding of Earth-surface – atmosphere interactions in the McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDV), Antarctica including identification of foehn winds as the cause of air temperature increases > 50°C in 3 to 4 hours. The origin of these winds had remained a mystery since Scott’s exploration of the MDVs almost 100 years ago. On the Great Barrier Reef, Australia, a multi-year investigation that I initiated and led quantified for the first time by direct measurement energy and trace gas fluxes over coral reefs using eddy covariance. Results include first direct measurements of reef-water-atmosphere energy exchanges including during a coral bleaching event, and the first direct measurements of CO2 exchanges. This research has been published widely in journals of the American Meteorological Society and the American Geophysical Union [see: https://doi.org/10.1029/2018JD029830]. Research in this thematic area is expanding further with research initiatives investigating the atmospheric boundary layer energetics of severe thunderstorms and bushfires in eastern Australia. New projects in this area are also seeking to quantify the energy balance of the Australian seasonal snow pack and energy and trace gas exchanges over coral reefs in the Red Sea.
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Climate Variability
Research I lead under this theme focuses on identifying and unpacking the relevant drivers of climate variability and their associated scales of effect, which are used to develop new climate forecasting tools. I have led research that has improved accuracy and confidence of predictions of future climate which has shown for the first time terrestrial impacts in Australia of Northern Hemisphere climate reversals, and confirmed the causes of inter-annual to inter-centennial drought in eastern Australia. Research in this theme area using peat cores from the remote Kimberley of northwest Australia showed El Niño as the likely cause of catastrophe change in Aboriginal culture during the past 6000 years and confirmed that breakdown of deep water circulation in the North Atlantic under a warming world would likely result in severe and devastating drought in eastern Australia. Collaborations in this area have been with researchers in Australia (Griffith University; NSW Office of Environment and Heritage; CSIRO; University of Wollongong; Kimberley Foundation of Australia), and with international researcher partners at the Planetary Science Institute, USA; Oxford of University; Trinity College, Dublin and United States Geological Survey. A very significant applied aspect of this research theme over the past 15 years has been on identifying cause(s) of variability in the hydrometeorology of south-eastern Australia and the application of this knowledge to enhance water management in the catchments of the Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Scheme, where releases of water underwrite > $3 billion of agricultural product annually. Research in this area has grown significantly and has led to the development of new interannual hydrometeorological forecasting tools. This research involves substantial collaboration with UWA-Perth including co-supervision of PhD candidates.
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Severe Weather
This field of research is focused on thunderstorm and bushfire meteorology in eastern Australia - an ideal natural thunderstorm hotspot, and the bushfire prone states of Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. It involves substantial collaborations with research partners including the Bureau of Meteorology, NSW Rural Fire Service, Victoria Country Fire Authority and Queensland Fire and Emergency Services. Our team’s severe weather research is distinguished internationally by the innovative application of our portable dual polarised x-band Doppler radar (UQ-XPOL) as highlighted in the invited article by Soderholm et al (2016) [https://doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-D-14-00212.1] published in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. Japanese Radar manufacture Furuno is supporting our group’s R&D in this area providing technical support and software upgrades to enable novel radar scanning patterns to observe storm and smoke plume dynamics. We believe this work will have far-reaching application as we develop mobile radar specifically designed for real-time wildfire observation and nowcasting of pyro-convective plume dynamics and atmosphere-fire ground coupling.
Works
Search Professor Hamish McGowan’s works on UQ eSpace
2024
Journal Article
Subtropical Foehn Winds, Southeast Queensland, Australia
Wiesner, Leon, McGowan, Hamish, Sturman, Andrew and Dale, Tony (2024). Subtropical Foehn Winds, Southeast Queensland, Australia. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 129 (13) e2023JD040410. doi: 10.1029/2023jd040410
2024
Journal Article
Air-sea interactions in stable atmospheric conditions: lessons from the desert semi-enclosed Gulf of Eilat (Aqaba)
Abir, Shai, McGowan, Hamish A., Shaked, Yonatan, Gildor, Hezi, Morin, Efrat and Lensky, Nadav G. (2024). Air-sea interactions in stable atmospheric conditions: lessons from the desert semi-enclosed Gulf of Eilat (Aqaba). Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 24 (10), 6177-6195. doi: 10.5194/acp-24-6177-2024
2024
Journal Article
Marginal snowpacks: The basis for a global definition and existing research needs
López-Moreno, J.I., Callow, N., McGowan, H., Webb, R., Schwartz, A., Bilish, S., Revuelto, J., Gascoin, S., Deschamps-Berger, C. and Alonso-González, E. (2024). Marginal snowpacks: The basis for a global definition and existing research needs. Earth-Science Reviews, 252 104751, 104751. doi: 10.1016/j.earscirev.2024.104751
2024
Journal Article
A Radar-Based Hail Climatology of Australia
Brook, Jordan P., Soderholm, Joshua S., Protat, Alain, McGowan, Hamish and Warren, Robert A. (2024). A Radar-Based Hail Climatology of Australia. Monthly Weather Review, 152 (2), 607-628. doi: 10.1175/mwr-d-23-0130.1
2023
Journal Article
Segmentation of polarimetric radar imagery using statistical texture
Guyot, Adrien, Brook, Jordan P., Protat, Alain, Turner, Kathryn, Soderholm, Joshua, McCarthy, Nicholas F. and McGowan, Hamish (2023). Segmentation of polarimetric radar imagery using statistical texture. Atmospheric Measurement Techniques, 16 (19), 4571-4588. doi: 10.5194/amt-16-4571-2023
2023
Journal Article
The effects of spatial interpolation on a novel, dual-doppler 3D wind retrieval technique
Brook, Jordan P., Protat, Alain, Potvin, Corey K., Soderholm, Joshua S. and McGowan, Hamish (2023). The effects of spatial interpolation on a novel, dual-doppler 3D wind retrieval technique. Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, 40 (10), 1325-1347. doi: 10.1175/jtech-d-23-0004.1
2023
Journal Article
Atypical weather patterns cause coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia during the 2021-2022 La Niña
McGowan, Hamish and Theobald, Alison (2023). Atypical weather patterns cause coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia during the 2021-2022 La Niña. Scientific Reports, 13 (1) 6397, 6397. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-33613-1
2023
Journal Article
Crown fire initiation of a thunderstorm
McCarthy, Nicholas F., McGowan, Hamish, Guyot, Adrien, Dowdy, Andrew, Sturgess, Andrew and Twomey, Ben (2023). Crown fire initiation of a thunderstorm. International Journal of Wildland Fire, 32 (4), 545-560. doi: 10.1071/wf21146
2022
Journal Article
Identifying an evaporative thermal refugium for the preservation of coral reefs in a warming world—The Gulf of Eilat (Aqaba)
Abir, Shai, McGowan, Hamish A., Shaked, Yonathan and Lensky, Nadav G. (2022). Identifying an evaporative thermal refugium for the preservation of coral reefs in a warming world—The Gulf of Eilat (Aqaba). Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 127 (24) e2022JD036845. doi: 10.1029/2022jd036845
2022
Journal Article
Air-water interactions regulating water temperature of lakes: direct observations (Agamon Hula, Israel) and analytical solutions
Tau, G., Enzel, Y., McGowan, H., Lyakhovsky, V. and Lensky, N. G. (2022). Air-water interactions regulating water temperature of lakes: direct observations (Agamon Hula, Israel) and analytical solutions. Journal of Hydrology, 614 (Part A) 128515, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2022.128515
2022
Journal Article
A variational interpolation method for gridding weather radar data
Brook, Jordan P., Protat, Alain, Soderholm, Joshua S., Warren, Robert A. and McGowan, Hamish (2022). A variational interpolation method for gridding weather radar data. Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, 39 (11), 1633-1654. doi: 10.1175/JTECH-D-22-0015.1
2022
Journal Article
Direct measurement of CO2 air‐sea exchange over a desert fringing coral reef, Gulf of Eilat (Aqaba), Israel
McGowan, Hamish, Lensky, Nadav, Abir, Shai, Shaked, Yonathan and Wurgaft, Eyal (2022). Direct measurement of CO2 air‐sea exchange over a desert fringing coral reef, Gulf of Eilat (Aqaba), Israel. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 127 (10) e2022JC018548, 1-15. doi: 10.1029/2022jc018548
2022
Journal Article
A comparison of northwest cloudbands and landfalling atmospheric rivers over Australia
Borthwick, Kara and McGowan, Hamish (2022). A comparison of northwest cloudbands and landfalling atmospheric rivers over Australia. International Journal of Climatology, 42 (10), 5073-5091. doi: 10.1002/joc.7520
2022
Journal Article
Coral reef coupling to the atmospheric boundary layer through exchanges of heat, moisture, and momentum: case studies from tropical and desert fringing coral reefs
McGowan, Hamish, Lensky, Nadav G., Abir, Shai and Saunders, Melissa (2022). Coral reef coupling to the atmospheric boundary layer through exchanges of heat, moisture, and momentum: case studies from tropical and desert fringing coral reefs. Frontiers in Marine Science, 9 900679, 1-13. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2022.900679
2022
Journal Article
Dust emissions from Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre: a review
Marx, S.K., May, J-H, Cohen, T., Kamber, B.S., McGowan, H.A. and Petherick, L. (2022). Dust emissions from Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre: a review. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia, 146 (1), 1-39. doi: 10.1080/03721426.2022.2054918
2022
Other Outputs
Eilat Reef CO2
McGowan, Hamish (2022). Eilat Reef CO2. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/7e3c81a
2021
Journal Article
Influence of bushfire on accumulation and ablation of a marginal montane snowpack in Snow Gum forests
Schwartz, Andrew, McGowan, Hamish and Callow, Nik (2021). Influence of bushfire on accumulation and ablation of a marginal montane snowpack in Snow Gum forests. Journal of Hydrology, 603 126795, 126795. doi: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2021.126795
2021
Journal Article
Snowpack thermal patterns in pre- and post-bushfire Snow Gum forests
Schwartz, Andrew, McGowan, Hamish and Callow, Nik (2021). Snowpack thermal patterns in pre- and post-bushfire Snow Gum forests. Journal of Hydrology, 602 126789, 126789. doi: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2021.126789
2021
Journal Article
Atmospheric rivers: an overlooked threat to the marginal snowpack of the Australian alps
McGowan, Hamish, Borthwick, Kara, Schwartz, Andrew, Callow, John Nik, Bilish, Shane and Browning, Stuart (2021). Atmospheric rivers: an overlooked threat to the marginal snowpack of the Australian alps. Journal of Hydrometeorology, 22 (10), 2521-2532. doi: 10.1175/JHM-D-20-0293.1
2021
Other Outputs
Eddy covariance and environmental data collected Eilat, Israel & Heron Reef, Australia
McGowan, Hamish, Lensky, Nadav, Abir, Shai, Shaked, Yonathan and Wurgaft , Eyal (2021). Eddy covariance and environmental data collected Eilat, Israel & Heron Reef, Australia . The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.14264/87537d3
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Hamish McGowan is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Unlocking the environmental archives of the Kimberley's past
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Unlocking the archives of the Kimberley's past
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Bushfire Meteorological Hazard Identification by Mobile Weather Radar
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Adrien Guyot
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Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the changing risk of severe thunderstorms by novel stochastic modelling of extreme hail and wind hazards
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Matthew Mason
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Doctor Philosophy
Digital farm tweens in agriculture
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Dongxue Zhao, Professor Daniel Rodriguez
Completed supervision
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Radar-based methods for quantifying hailfall across varied spatial scales in Australia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Matthew Mason
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Influence of bushfire on Australian snowpack hydrometeorology within Snow Gum forests
Principal Advisor
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Bushfire Thunderstorms: Radar Analysis of Fire-Driven Convection in Australia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Adrien Guyot
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
The surface-atmosphere energetics of a sub-tropical sand island in eastern Australia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor David Lockington
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2018
Doctor Philosophy
Unlocking the Kimberley's past: The applicability of organic spring deposits for reconstructing late Quaternary climatic and environmental change
Principal Advisor
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
A synoptic climatology of inflow-generating precipitation for the Snowy Mountains, south-eastern Australia
Principal Advisor
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
Quantification of Evaporation from a Small Subtropical Water Storage using Eddy Covariance, Scintillometry and Modelling Techniques
Principal Advisor
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2013
Doctor Philosophy
Exploring the Significance of Aerosol on Cloud Development and Rainfall in South-east Queensland
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Stuart Phinn
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2013
Doctor Philosophy
The Micrometeorology of a Coral Reef: Heron Reef, Australia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Stuart Phinn
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2012
Doctor Philosophy
The Termination of the Last Glacial Stage in eastern Australia: A High Resolution, Multiproxy Analysis
Principal Advisor
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2007
Doctor Philosophy
A HOLOCENE RECORD OF TRANS-TASMAN DUST TRANSPORT: QUANTIFYING DUST EMISSIONS FROM EASTERN AUSTRALIA USING GEOCHEMICAL PROXIES
Principal Advisor
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2006
Master Philosophy
A 25000 YEAR RECORD OF AEOLIAN SEDIMENTATION FROM EASTERN AUSTRALIA: A PROXY FOR CLIMATE VARIABILITY
Principal Advisor
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2008
Doctor Philosophy
Modelling Land Susceptibility to Wind Erosion in Western Queensland, Australia
Joint Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Stuart Phinn
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
The fate of atmospheric metal pollutants in the landscape, Snowy Mountains, south-eastern Australia
Associate Advisor
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2004
Doctor Philosophy
CLIMATE IMPACTS OF AUSTRALIAN LAND COVER CHANGE
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Stuart Phinn
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Hamish McGowan directly for media enquiries about:
- Climate change and variability
- Climatology
- Coastal meteorology
- Dust storms
- Hydrometeorology
- Weather
- Wind erosion
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