
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
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
2011
Journal Article
Wavelet analysis of atmospheric turbulence over a coral reef flat
Wiebe, Andrew, Sturman, Andrew and McGowan, Hamish (2011). Wavelet analysis of atmospheric turbulence over a coral reef flat. Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, 28 (5), 698-708. doi: 10.1175/2010JTECHA1485.1
2011
Journal Article
Estimation of evaporation and sensible heat flux from open water using a large-aperture scintillometer
McJannet, D. L., Cook, F. J., McGloin, R. P., McGowan, H. A. and Burn, S. (2011). Estimation of evaporation and sensible heat flux from open water using a large-aperture scintillometer. Water Resources Research, 47 (5) W05545, W05545.1-W05545.14. doi: 10.1029/2010WR010155
2011
Conference Publication
Quantification of evaporation from a small water storage reservoir: an inter-comparison of the scintillometry and eddy covariance methods
McGloin, Ryan, McGowan, Hamish, McJannet, David, Cook, Freeman and Burn, Stewart (2011). Quantification of evaporation from a small water storage reservoir: an inter-comparison of the scintillometry and eddy covariance methods. EGU2011: 8th European Geosciences Union General Assembly, Vienna, Austria, 3-8 April, 2011. Goettingen, Germany: Copernicus.
2010
Journal Article
Comment on "Lead isotopic evidence for an Australian source of aeolian dust to Antarctica at times over the last 170,000 years" by P. De Deckker, M. Norman, I.D. Goodwin, A. Wain and F.X. Gingele
Kamber, Balz S., Marx, Samuel K. and McGowan, Hamish A. (2010). Comment on "Lead isotopic evidence for an Australian source of aeolian dust to Antarctica at times over the last 170,000 years" by P. De Deckker, M. Norman, I.D. Goodwin, A. Wain and F.X. Gingele. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 298 (3-4), 432-436. doi: 10.1016/j.palaeo.2010.06.024
2010
Journal Article
Measurements of the surface energy balance over a coral reef flat, Heron Island, southern Great Barrier Reef, Australia
McGowan, Hamish A., Sturman, Andrew P., Mackellar, Mellissa C., Wiebe, Andrew H. and Neil, David T. (2010). Measurements of the surface energy balance over a coral reef flat, Heron Island, southern Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmospheres, 15 (19) D19124, D19124-1-D19124-12. doi: 10.1029/2010JD014218
2010
Journal Article
Foehn winds in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctic: The origin of extreme warming events
Speirs, J. C., Steinhoff, D. F., McGowan, H. A., Bromwich, D. H. and Monaghan, A. J. (2010). Foehn winds in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctic: The origin of extreme warming events. Journal of Climate, 23 (13), 3577-3598. doi: 10.1175/2010JCLI3382.1
2010
Journal Article
Atmospheric pollutants in alpine peat bogs record a detailed chronology of industrial and agricultural development on the Australian continent
Marx, Samuel K., Kamber, Balz S., McGowan, Hamish A. and Zawadzki, Atun (2010). Atmospheric pollutants in alpine peat bogs record a detailed chronology of industrial and agricultural development on the Australian continent. Environmental Pollution, 158 (5), 1615-1628. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2009.12.009
2010
Journal Article
Evidence of solar and tropical ocean forcing of hydroclimate variability in south-eastern Australia for the past 6500 years
McGowan, Hamish A., Marx, Samuel K., Soderholm, Joshua and Denholm, John (2010). Evidence of solar and tropical ocean forcing of hydroclimate variability in south-eastern Australia for the past 6500 years. Geophysical Research Letters, 37 (10) L10705, L10705-1-L10705-5. doi: 10.1029/2010GL042918
2010
Book Chapter
Long-distance transport of urban and industrial metals and their incorporation into the environment: Sources, transport pathways and historical trends
Marx, Samuel K. and McGowan, Hamish A. (2010). Long-distance transport of urban and industrial metals and their incorporation into the environment: Sources, transport pathways and historical trends. Urban airborne particulate matter: Origin, chemistry, fate and health impacts. (pp. 103-124) edited by Fathi Zereini and Clare L. S. Wiseman. Germany: Springer Verlag. doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-12278-1_6
2010
Conference Publication
Insight to forcing of late Quaternary climate change from aeolian dust archives in eastern Australia
McGowan, H. A., Marx, S., Soderholm, J., Denholm, J. and Petherick, L. (2010). Insight to forcing of late Quaternary climate change from aeolian dust archives in eastern Australia. AGU 2010 Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA, U.S.A., 13-17 December 2010. Washington, DC, U.S.A.: American Geophysical Union.
2010
Journal Article
Air-sea energy exchanges measured by eddy covariance during a localised coral bleaching event, Heron Reef, Great Barrier Reef, Australia
MacKellar, Mellissa C. and McGowan, Hamish A. (2010). Air-sea energy exchanges measured by eddy covariance during a localised coral bleaching event, Heron Reef, Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Geophysical Research Letters, 37 (24) L24703, n/a-n/a. doi: 10.1029/2010GL045291
2010
Conference Publication
Climate variability induced by foehn winds in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica
Speirs, Johanna, McGowan, Hamish, Steinhoff, Daniel and Bromwich, David (2010). Climate variability induced by foehn winds in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica. Australia - New Zealand Climate Forum 2010 (ANZCF 2010), Hobart , Tasmania, 12-15 October 2010. Bureau of Meteorology.
2010
Conference Publication
Eddy covariance measurements of CO2 exchange during monsoon and winter conditions over Heron Reef, southern Great Barrier Reef, Australia
McGowan, Hamish A. and MacKellar, M. C. (2010). Eddy covariance measurements of CO2 exchange during monsoon and winter conditions over Heron Reef, southern Great Barrier Reef, Australia. American Meteorological Society 17th Conference on Air Sea Interaction, Annapolis, Maryland, United States, 26-30 September 2010. American Meteorological Society.
2010
Conference Publication
Evidence of solar and tropical ocean forcing of hydroclimate variability in south-eastern Australia for the past 6500 years
McGowan, Hamish, Marx, Samuel, Soderholm, Joshua and Denholm, John (2010). Evidence of solar and tropical ocean forcing of hydroclimate variability in south-eastern Australia for the past 6500 years. AQUA2010: Australasian Quaternary Association Biennial Meeting, Dunwich, North Stradbroke Island, Qld., Australia, 11-16 July 2010. Australasian Quaternary Association.
2010
Conference Publication
The meteorology and environmental implications of foehn winds in a polar landscape: McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica
McGowan, Hamish A and Speirs, Johanna C (2010). The meteorology and environmental implications of foehn winds in a polar landscape: McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica. International Polar Year - Oslo Science Conference, Oslo, Norway, 8-12 June 2010.
2010
Conference Publication
High resolution record of the Last Glacial Maximum in eastern Australia
Petherick, Lynda, Moss, Patrick and McGowan, Hamish (2010). High resolution record of the Last Glacial Maximum in eastern Australia. European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2010, Vienna, Austria, 2-7 May 2010. Goettingen, Germany: Copernicus.
2010
Conference Publication
Eddy covariance measurements of the surface energy balance associated with a localised coral bleaching event, Heron Reef, Great Barrier Reef, Australia
MacKellar, Melissa C. and McGowan, Hamish A. (2010). Eddy covariance measurements of the surface energy balance associated with a localised coral bleaching event, Heron Reef, Great Barrier Reef, Australia. American Meteorological Society 17th Conference on Air-Sea Interaction, Annapolis, Maryland, USA, 26-30 September 2010. Boston, MA, United States: American Meteorological Society.
2010
Conference Publication
Multi-proxy, high resolution record of the Last Glacial Maximum in eastern Australia
Petherick, Lynda, McGowan, Hamish and Moss, Patrick (2010). Multi-proxy, high resolution record of the Last Glacial Maximum in eastern Australia. Australian Quaternary Association Biannual Conference, North Stradbroke Island, Qld, Australia, 11-16 July 2010. Australasian Quaternary Association.
2009
Journal Article
Approaches to modelling land erodibility by wind
Webb, Nicholas and McGowan, Hamish A. (2009). Approaches to modelling land erodibility by wind. Progress In Physical Geography, 33 (5), 587-613. doi: 10.1177/0309133309341604
2009
Journal Article
Sand dune movement in the Victoria Valley, Antarctica
Bourke, Mary C., Ewing, Ryan C., Finnegan, David and McGowan, Hamish A. (2009). Sand dune movement in the Victoria Valley, Antarctica. Geomorphology, 109 (3-4), 148-160. doi: 10.1016/j.geomorph.2009.02.028
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 Archives of Australia's Palaeoclimate
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Reconstructing the palaeoclimate of Australia: Using downscaled climate models to provide insights into the palaeoclimate of Australia
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Bushfire Meteorological Hazard Identification by Mobile Weather Radar
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Unlocking the environmental archives of the Kimberley's past
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Designing Farming Systems with Whole Farm Models
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Dongxue Zhao, Professor Daniel Rodriguez
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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: Associate Professor Matthew Mason
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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: Associate Professor Matthew Mason
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: Associate Professor 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
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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 D 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
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