CSIRO staff are furious after emails revealed the organisation's management discussed how to make a "clean cut" of up to 120 staff in the Oceans and Atmosphere Division.

Key points: Email suggested 120 climate change research staff be shed

Email suggested 120 climate change research staff be shed It said climate scientists would not align with new strategy

It said climate scientists would not align with new strategy CSIRO spokesman said option was dismissed

The emails from January, obtained by the ABC, show senior management discussing how to best cut the division.

One suggested it should shed the jobs of 120 scientists working in government-funded climate change research.

The email said it should consider a "clean cut", eliminating all capability associated with climate science.

"In essence I think we should aim for - 120 staff ... because it would allow a clean cut in terms of eliminating all capability associated with 'public good/Government-funded climate research'. If we aim for less we will inevitably face the problem of keeping some of the climate scientists (who will no longer be aligned with the new CSIRO strategy). If we go for more, we will lose important non-climate-related capability."

In February, the CSIRO flagged cutting up to 350 jobs by mid-2017.

CSIRO chief executive, Larry Marshall, said the changes would see the organisation move from measuring and monitoring climate change to a focus on adapting to it.

Plan was discussed but rejected: CSIRO

CSIRO spokesman Huw Morgan said the plan discussed in the email was one of a range of options considered.

"The comments were part of discussions around many options put forward for review at that very early stage," he said.

"They didn't meet our criteria once we looked at the external contract obligations, changes in and impacts on other [Oceans and Atmosphere] programs or across CSIRO business units and so those options weren't progressed."

Oceans and Atmosphere division executive Alex Wonhas addressed staff at the Hobart offices this morning but senior research scientist Richard Matear said the meeting was tense and there was still no clarity.

"I feel like on one hand they're saying they're going to totally ditch this area of science, and then on the other hand we hear in that meeting today that there's a real need for the climate services," he said.

"There's a whole group of people that feel like they're fighting for their job and you're competing with your colleagues, so you can't produce a very collaborative environment which is fundamental to the science we do."

Staff feel they are 'being tossed aside'

Dr Jaclyn Brown, another senior research scientist, said staff were operating under the shadow of the impending cuts.

"Its very hard to sit at your desk and do work when you've been told your work is not important or valued any more," she said.

"We've spent decades becoming experts in our fields. We've worked for years, long hours with low pay to build up our knowledge and now we're being tossed aside."

Mr Morgan said the organisation had to follow an established process.

"We appreciate this can be an uncertain and challenging period for affected staff and remain committed to supporting staff throughout this process," he said.

The formal consultation period has now ended, and the CSIRO expects to make an announcement to staff in coming weeks.