Altering land management practices could make heatwaves less intense, and which of these work best is being researched by a WA scientist.
Murdoch University's Jatin Kala says it is imperative to discover how different soil and crop management strategies could help reduce the risks associated with heatwaves, building on his previous research that land surface can amplify their intensity.
"Heat waves have very high social, environmental and economic impacts, and their intensity is increasing," Dr Kala said on Thursday.
"Heat wave conditions during the summer of 2008-09 leading to the Black Saturday bush fires resulted in 173 deaths and damage to infrastructure estimated at more than $4 billion."
Dr Kala will apply climate models to agricultural regions of southwest and southeast Australia, to simulate the impact of factors like irrigation and no-till farming practices, where soil disturbance is minimised.
Till farming practices were comparable to wearing a black shirt and no-till practices to wearing a grey shirt, with till farming bringing organic matter to the surface, making the land darker and possibly hotter, he told AAP.
The simulations will also illustrate how soil and crop moisture levels can affect heat wave intensity.
"For example, genetic engineering offers the possibility to breed wheat varieties more tolerant to drought, minimising the loss of moisture into the atmosphere during photosynthesis," he said.
"However, the effect of increased water efficiency is a reduction in water being released into the atmosphere, which could lead to a warming effect. It is critical to test the effect of such strategies on heat waves."
Australia is set for a very hot summer, with above average temperatures and below average rainfalls expected, the Bureau of Meteorology says.
