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Australia Experiencing Extreme Climate Change
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by steve468 | January 6, 2008 at 12:43 pm
711 views | 12 Recommendations | 3 comments
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SYDNEY (AFP) - Australia experienced one of its hottest years on record in 2007, and climate experts have warned that the higher temperatures are likely a taste of things to come as weather patterns change.
The country has already kicked off 2008 with a spate of extreme weather -- several cities, including Perth and Melbourne, have suffered summer heatwaves, while bushfires have raged on the east and west coasts.
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (3)
at 14:00 on January 6th, 2008
It feels strange to mark this as 'Good Stuff'. The report is a worthwhile wake up call though the subject matter is anything but good.
at 14:25 on January 6th, 2008
Hello steve468, important story, Australia joint Kyoto protocol, first step
To many young Australians have skin cancer, burnt by UV=10/11 rays
Australian Skin Cancer
Australians suffer the highest rates of skin cancer in the world. Each year, around 1,200 Australians die from what is an almost totally preventable disease. Everyone can develop skin cancer; however, some people may be at higher risk than others, due to a range of factors.
Australia exposed to more UV
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation levels in Australia are higher than in Europe, even during summer. Being located close to the ozone hole over the Antarctic means much higher, more severe levels of UV radiation get through to ground level.
During summer, the earth's orbit brings Australia closer to the sun than Europe during its summer, resulting in an additional seven per cent solar UV intensity. This, coupled with our clearer atmospheric conditions, means Australians are exposed to up to 15 per cent more UV than Europeans.
nasa ozone watch
at 18:30 on January 6th, 2008
Now lets introduce a reality check here
November and December weather was unusually cool in most of Australia
Heatwaves are normal for summer - Australia is renowned for a few days to a week of hot weather. This year the heatwaves have been far less and shorter duration.
The fires are normal in summer also. The size and intensity are more a factor of lack of rain than extreme heat.
So buys and girls, lets not go marking stuff as Good Stuff when it should be marked Needs Work
And on skin cancer - yes, because we are so much more beach goers and outdoors lifestyle than in Europe
Maybe we should pollute our air some more to block the deadly rays.
at 21:29 on February 15th, 2008
Well, if I may throw in my 'two bob's worth', I'm afraid the current Australian government isn't seriously enough focusing on solving future 'climate change' problems. I fear it will be more 'business as usual' than real due-dilligence. But, that said, I live in hope.
Re. the weather, we've had a few extremely hot days here in Melbourne, but we've also had some unusually wet days too. Our garden is thriving, with careful maintenance. It's been like this for over the 30 years, off and on, that I've lived here.
The REAL issue of urgency is the current immigration policy, which is leading to extreme population growth –far outstripping the capacity of this fragile eco system to support it.
And, we've just opened up our skies to more airline companies, and both Sydney and Melbourne are dredging their ports so that MORE huge cargo ships can import more non-biodegradable junk, (planned obsolescence - and Suber Dumps), and the recent leaded UN report:
Shipping emissions twice level of airlines
( http://www.nowpublic.com/environment/shipping-emissions-twice-level-airlines )
reveals we are bringing even more deadly pollutants into our environment, and, of course, destroying marine habitat in the process.
Just take a look at these maps:
1/ the CCI (Climate Change Index: http://maps.maplecroft.com/
"Global map of vulnerability to climate change 2006"
2/ Map shows toll on world's oceans
(includes 2min. video "fly over" of impacted oceans.)
BBC
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7241428.stm