Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
2 Study Region and Dataset
2.1 Region of Interest
The Department of Primary Industries' VCCAP focused on a pilot region in south-
western Victoria for investigating potential climate change impact and possible
adaptations. This region has the highest rate of population employed in the agri-
cultural sector in Victoria and produces a large number of agricultural commod-
ities. It is also one of the main dairy areas in Australia, generating $2 billion a year
and delivering 50 % of the region's exports. (Spencer 2009 ). As part of an effort to
communicate VCCAP research findings and engage stakeholders, the visualisation
team developed both landscape- and farm-scale visualisation products which
illustrate how the region, and individual farms, may be impacted by, and adapt to,
climate change.
2.2 Data Sources
Climate visualisation of maximum temperature, minimum temperature and rainfall
were developed from two data sources. Both datasets were obtained for the State
of Victoria in a raster format at a resolution of 0.05 degrees (approximately 5 km):
• Data relative to projected changes in climate in Victoria were obtained from the
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
( www.ozclim.com.au ) . The climate change projections considered in the paper
were taken from the CSIRO Mark 3.5 climate change model, Special Report on
Emissions Scenarios (SERES) Marker Scenario A1FI (fossil fuel intensive)
using a high climate sensitivity.
• Past historical climate variations for the years 1961-1990 (used as baseline by
global circulation models) and 1998-2007 (corresponding to the last decade)
were calculated using monthly climate records obtained through the Queensland
Department of Environment and Resource Management SILO dataset.
Visualisation of potential impact at the local farm scale used three data sources:
• Outputs of the Sustainable Grazing System Pasture (SGS) model, a biophysical
simulation model of processes for various grazing practices investigating future
changes in pasture growth under different climate change scenarios at the farm
scale, including at Demo Dairy (Cullen et al. 2008 ).
• Aerial imagery, digital elevation model and property information including
parcel boundaries and farm infrastructure.
• Digital photographs of farm infrastructure, animals and pastures. These were
used to construct landscape objects and textures to build visualisation products.
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