The Heat Is On
With the end of 2009, many research bodies have released their climate findings for the year and the decade (See Annual Australia Climate Statement or this review of the Goddard Institute for Space Studies Surface Temperature Analysis). The research shows that 2009 was the second hottest year on record in Australia (after 2005) and the decade itself was the hottest we’ve seen.
It seems fitting that I write this blog after we’ve just experienced three consecutive days in Perth over 40 degrees. When considered with alongside the record breaking heatwaves experienced in Adelaide in November last year, and other extremes experienced by Victoria, New South Wales and even Tasmania, the trend of increasing temperatures can not be denied.
A look to Australia’s climate change predictions is a sobering exercise. For example, in Perth, we currently experience around 28 days per year over 35 degrees. This is expected to climb to between 33 and 38 by 2030 and to between 36 and 67 by 2070, with the variation allowing for different climate change scenarios. The reality is, we are currently seeing increasing temperatures in many regions due to climate change, and we will continue to do so.
This leads us to the case for adaptation. But that is another topic worthy of it’s own blog — For those interested, I’ll blog again next week on what adaptation entails.
