Climate change is expected to increase the incidence of extreme bushfires across southeastern Australia. This expectation is already being realised with a significant increase in the number of pyrocumulonimbus and large blow-up fire events over the last two decades, resulting in an emerging pattern of extreme bushfire occurrence. However, the environmental drivers of this new extreme fire regime remain poorly understood.

This project will enhance our understanding of extreme fire/pyrocumulonimbus regimes through identification of areas prone to extreme bushfire development, the key environmental factors that influence their occurrence, and how extreme fire regimes will evolve under climate change.

(Image: Janice James)