The Conversation

Despite its global importance, the rainy 'Maritime Continent' around Indonesia is hard to capture using global climate models. But fear not - new research shows how to improve our forecasts. Andrew King, ARC DECRA fellow, University of Melbourne Claire Vincent, Lecturer in Atmospheric Science, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Logging in the Thomson Catchment could reduce water supply by the equivalent of 600,000 people by 2050. David Lindenmayer, Professor, The Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University Chris Taylor, Research Fellow, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Antarctic Circumpolar Current provides a barrier to heat that keeps warm subtropical waters away from Antarctica. Yet, there are a few places where the heat gets through. Helen Phillips, Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania Benoit Legresy, CSIRO Nathan Bindoff, Professor of Physical Oceanography, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Anti-fossil fuel activism is gaining ground where previous climate campaigns have failed, largely because it resonates better with people. Fergus Green, PhD Candidate in Political Theory, Department of Government, London School of Economics and Political Science Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

When water turns from a gas into a liquid, it forms droplets. Whether those droplets are dew or rain depends on where the droplet forms. Dylan Korczynskyj, Associate Professor, University of Notre Dame Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The California fires are just the most recent in a series of major wildfires. Together, they suggest we need to look at alternative ways of living with fire. David Bowman, Professor, Pyrogeography and Fire Science, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The farming system, lauded as a solution to drought, involves slowing water flow in streams using 'leaky weirs'. Ian Rutherfurd, Associate Professor in Geography, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The reality is that without human intervention, ecosystems will reshape themselves in response to climate change. The Queensland government has launched a climate plan for the state's ecosystems. Sarah Boulter, Research Fellow, National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Isolation at work can be unhealthy. But it can also be a good thing – as this researcher found out when he walked solo from Melbourne to Sydney. Agustin Chevez, Adjunct Research Fellow, Centre For Design Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A lack of sustainability, profitability and transparency in the global fishing industry is exacerbating the problem of slave-like working conditions for crew. Here are the warning signs to look out for. Jessica Meeuwig, Professor & Director, Marine Futures Lab, University of Western Australia Andrew Forrest, PhD Candidate, University of Western Australia David Tickler, PhD Candidate in Marine Ecology, University of Western Australia Dirk Zeller, Professor & Director, Sea Around Us - Indian Ocean, University of Western Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The forecast arrival of El Niño may mean the east coast of Australia will experience an exceptionally hot and dry summer, but does this mean there will be fewer mosquitoes buzzing about? Cameron Webb, Clinical Lecturer and Principal Hospital Scientist, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Pharmaceuticals were found in every invertebrate sampled from six Melbourne streams - including a waterway in a national park. Erinn Richmond, Research Fellow, School of Chemistry, Monash University Mike Grace, Associate Professor, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

While industry bodies fight over who can claim that their mānuka honey is authentic, Māori interests are often left out of the debate. Jessica C Lai, Senior Lecturer in Commercial Law, Victoria University of Wellington Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

More and more people are adopting plant-based diets in Australia and other western nations. But also seemingly on the rise is resentment towards vegans and vegetarians. Tani Khara, PhD student in Sustainability, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

While drought insurance schemes have produced mixed results to date, there remains hope for the future. Neal Hughes, Senior Economist, Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

One of the great Australian trees – messmate stringybark, Eucalyptus obliqua. Gregory Moore, Doctor of Botany, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The sediments that accumulate beneath seagrass meadows can act as secure vaults for shipwrecks and other precious artefacts, by stopping water and oxygen from damaging the delicate timbers. Oscar Serrano, Doctor of Global Change, Edith Cowan University Carlos Duarte, Adjunct professor, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology Dorte Krause-Jensen, Senior Researcher, Marine Ecology, Aarhus University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

More than two-thirds of Earth's remaining wilderness is in the hands of just five countries, according to a new global map. A concerted conservation effort is needed to save our last wild places. James Allan, Postdoctoral research fellow, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland James Watson, Professor, The University of Queensland Jasmine Lee, PhD candidate, biodiversity conservation and climate change, The University of Queensland Kendall Jones, PhD candidate, Geography, Planning and Environmental Management, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The federal government is primarily to blame for the mess that is Australia's energy policy. It's time for the states to step up, to reduce both prices and emissions. Tony Wood, Program Director, Energy, Grattan Institute Guy Dundas, Energy Fellow, Grattan Institute Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

National parks and nature reserves are vital for conservation, but are also great places for recreation. Balancing the two is tricky, but it can be done if we realise parks are not just playgrounds. Bill Laurance, Distinguished Research Professor and Australian Laureate, James Cook University David Salt, Science writer and editor, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.