Climate Change in Australia
Climate change is a big issue for Australia as it will cause alot of problems to our enviroment, weather and production. Global warming will bring in exotic infections, extreme and unpredictable weather and severe crop disruptions. There will be more droughts, heat waves, flooding and cyclones as minimum temperatures rise. Exteme weather will lead to loss of farmland, scarcity of fresh water for irrigation, soil errosion, damaging heat stress to temperate crops and livestock. There will be a significant iumpact on human health as climate change will increase mosquito-transmitted diseases and food poisoning.
What has already occured?
-Average WA temperatures have risen 0.8C since 1910 -South West winter rainfall has declined 15% since 1975 -Inflow of Perth dams has declined 60% since 1975
-Fremantle sea level has risen 20cm since 1897
-Indian Ocean at Ningaloo has warmed by 0.6C since 1960 -Average number of summer days over 35C in Perth now is 15
Predicted future Change:
By 2030:
-Average South West temperatures will warm up by 0.5-2.1C
-Average South West winter rainfall will decline by 2-20%
-Sea levels will rise up to 25cm
-Sandy beaches will erode up to 25m
-Average number of summer days over 35C in Perth will be 16-22
-Less rain effecting pasture, will cause milk loss of 25-30L per cow
By 2070:
-Average South West temperatures will warm by 1-5.5C
-Average South West winter rainfall will decline ny 5-60%
-Sea levels will rise by up to 60cm
-Sandy beaches will errode by up to 60m
-Average number of summer days over 35C in Perth will be 18-39
-Winter rainfall declining by up to 2 thirds means inflow into dams will be virtually non-existent
By 2100:
-sea levels will rise up to 88cm
-Sandy beaches will errode by up to 88m
If our future emission don't decrease more problems can occur. Coral bleaching from rising sea temperatures will kill coral by the death of algae which helps it grow. Fewer cold days will damage south west fruit industries. Beef cattle in Northern Australia will expirience more heat stress and ticks affecting animal welfare and production.
Climate change in Australia affects alot of animals that live here. A 1C rise in temperature is enough to cause extinction of 3 south west frog species, 15 threatend animals and a third of Australia's dryandra species.
The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest reef system and it will suffer from coral bleaching as ocean temperatures rise. It has already suffered coral bleaching in the summers of 1998, 2002 and 2006. As the ocean warms fish move to other places to live because of the temperature leaving no food for baby seagulls. If this reef dies it will also affect population and available habbitat for turtles. A temperature increase of onle 1C leads to coral bleaching.
How are people adapting to climate change in Australia?
Lots of people are already doing what they can to help with climate change. More people have water tanks in their yards and buying low water use products. Farmers are also becoming more versitile in their produce with things more suited to this climate we are and are going to be living in. Lots of poeple are wanting to learn more about ozone issues and causes. Lots of schools are teaching children about climate change and water wise strategies. Companies are looking at how they can reduce their pollution.
How does climate change in Australia affect other parts of the world?
Climate change in Australia affects other parts of the world because growing certain crops here will become more difficult. We will have to import stuff we normally wouldn't have to import and may not be able to export stuff we used to export. Also minerals and energy are needed all over the world but mining processes have bad effects on the enviroment so companies are working on solutions.
'Australian societ, especially rural regions, is becoming more vulnerable to natural disasters, at least in terms of economic costs and these disasters are primarily climate related", Dr Peng said.
By Teagan Pitman
References:
Internet:
"Climate Change in Australia", [2008], www.climatechangeinAustralia.gov.au/
"Australian Goverment", [2008], www.bom.gov.au/climate/change/
"CSIRO", [2007], www.csiro.au/resources/ps3j6.html
Newspapers:
Sydney (11/1/2008)"Outback'to Suffer from Climate Change' ", The West Australian, p18
Dortch,E (4/2/2006)"Welcome to our Nightmare", The West Australian, p55
Hodge,A and Banks,A (27/7/2005)"Climate Change puts communities at risk",The Australian
