21 Oct '10 05:46>
I am quite persuaded that climate change is happening globally. But there are localised variants. Because much of our planet is water in the Southern Hemisphere the patterns emerging show anomolies and I believe some of the confusion arises because of these variants, such as quite differing emperature changes in the two polar regions.
In Australia we appear to be emerging from a prolonged drought that caused governments to initiate costly (and power consuming) desalination plants near our large cities. And we have had some of our hottest temperatures recorded over past years with associated serious bushfires.
But recently we have had, to our relief, high rainfall and an abundant spring. Some of it is due to the Southern Oscillation, but other interesting patterns are also emerging not seen before. Recently a weather pattern emerged with a "funnelling" effect of rains directly from the tropic regions down across the continent to dump large amounts on the east and southern coasts, and also leaving large amounts of water in the usually dry interior. Dams are refilling and many are happy, but there is also an expected increase in illness-bearing mosquitos and locusts associated with this. We are preparing for a locust plaque in the eastern states. Some governments are now left looking somewhat sheepish with there very costly desalination projects.
I am distinctly left with the impression that while the factual data supports global climate change (and I see human influence strongly), we are still groping somewhat as to predict with simulations the various outcomes regionally. We live in interesting times.
In Australia we appear to be emerging from a prolonged drought that caused governments to initiate costly (and power consuming) desalination plants near our large cities. And we have had some of our hottest temperatures recorded over past years with associated serious bushfires.
But recently we have had, to our relief, high rainfall and an abundant spring. Some of it is due to the Southern Oscillation, but other interesting patterns are also emerging not seen before. Recently a weather pattern emerged with a "funnelling" effect of rains directly from the tropic regions down across the continent to dump large amounts on the east and southern coasts, and also leaving large amounts of water in the usually dry interior. Dams are refilling and many are happy, but there is also an expected increase in illness-bearing mosquitos and locusts associated with this. We are preparing for a locust plaque in the eastern states. Some governments are now left looking somewhat sheepish with there very costly desalination projects.
I am distinctly left with the impression that while the factual data supports global climate change (and I see human influence strongly), we are still groping somewhat as to predict with simulations the various outcomes regionally. We live in interesting times.