Climate Change : Our Ever Changing World
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Phrases
like "Carbon Offsetting", "Carbon Neutral" and "Carbon Footprint" are
being bandied around the media like an old pair of socks lately. You'll
often hear your favourite movie star, or band, talking of their
contributions to making the world a little greener. But why? For many
of us, "Carbon Offsetting" means about as much to us as the phrase
"Let's watch Deal or No Deal".
Is all the fuss necessary? If so
- why? Well, fear not, as we have some interesting bits of information
that just might help you and your pals becoming "Wildlife Warriors".
CSIRO
(Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) have
recently released the results to a study which divulges the the
projections of Australia's environment for the years 2030, 2050 and
2070 and the various greenhouse gas emission scenarios.
They
incorporate material from the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC) assessment report, along with information of specific
relevance to Australia.
The key findings in the most recent
report includes the prediction that by the year 2030, temperatures will
"rise by about 1 ºC over Australia – a little less in coastal areas,
and a little more inland" - later in the century, depending on the
extent of greenhouse gas emissions in the next few years. If emissions
are low, warming of between 1 ºC and 2.5 ºC is likely by around 2070,
with a best estimate of 1.8 ºC. Under a high emission scenario, the
best estimate warming is 3.4 ºC, with a range of 2.2 ºC to 5 ºC.
The
report further indicated that there will be changes in temperature
extremes, with fewer frosts and a great deal more days over 35 ºC.
The
annual average rainfall was also likely to suffer, especially in
southern Australia where rainfall is likely to decrease in
southern areas during winter, in southern and eastern areas during
spring, and along the west coast during autumn. Thankfully - it is
predicted that by 2030, there will be little annual rainfall change in
the far north.
However, rainfall projections for later in the
century are more dependent on greenhouse gas emissions. Under a low
emission scenario in 2070, "the best estimate of rainfall decrease is
7.5 per cent". Under a high emission scenario "the best estimate is a
decrease of 10 per cent".
The most worrying find seems to stem
from our ever rising sea levels. Sea levels have risen about 1.8 mm per
year over the second half of the 20th century. CSIRO is continuing to
assess the extent to which sea level will change as the Earth warms,
with Volcanoes having been found to have one of the largest influences
on rising sea levels.
Other worrying findings include:
* Sea levels will continue to rise.
* High bush fire danger is likely to increase in the south-east
* Droughts are likely to become more frequent, particularly in the south-west
* Tropical cyclones are likely to become more intense
What
can you do? As strange as it sounds - every effort counts. Even the
slightest decreases will help reduce emissions - and if EVERYONE makes
the effort, then perhaps we won't all be doomed to boiling hot summers,
and unbeatable bush fires.
It's up to you!
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