Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Napoleon Bonaparte on January 5, 2013 at 8:01pm

Every summer there is extreme heat in parts of Australia but here is another record broken and another example of climate change in the world.

It should be remembered that bush fires have always occurred naturally in Australia and the bushlands regenerate quickly. The problem is that immigrants to Australia over the last 200 or so years have built houses and villages in these bushlands. What can the occupants reasonably expect ?

 

 

Permalink Reply by Steph S. on January 5, 2013 at 8:10pm

Wow - lots of increased temperature.

Yes, we have been there with the wildfires.

Permalink Reply by Ruth Anthony-Gardner on January 7, 2013 at 2:38pm

New South Wales faces extreme fire risk today.

New South Wales residents are being warned to prepare for one of the most serious fire threats in the state's history today, with conditions in some areas rated as "catastrophic".

Permalink Reply by Ruth Anthony-Gardner on January 8, 2013 at 11:09pm

Australia's heat wave has broken. Horray! However,

OFF THE SCALE: The current heatwave has forced the Bureau of Meteorology to adjust its colour scale. New colours representing 50-52C and 52-54C have had to be added.

Cool change a respite from scorcher across Australia

Permalink Reply by Ruth Anthony-Gardner on January 13, 2013 at 11:47am

This year's firestorm season has just been declared much worse than 2009 by Australia's bureau of climate modeling and prediction, after they put in the new temperatures into their model.

First sparks of climate change seen in Australian infernos

In 2009, Australia suffered a series of firestorms, resulting in over 200 deaths and  the collapse of more than 700 homes destroyed by the most prolific bushfires ever documented on the Australian continent.  

This year's firestorms are much worse, with daytime ambient temperatures setting new records.  

"The scale has just been increased today and I would anticipate it is because the forecast coming from the bureau's model is showing temperatures in excess of 50 degrees," David Jones, head of the bureau's climate monitoring and prediction unit, said. [emphasis mine]