Australia has always been a land of extremes. however, the basic features of the climate system have now shifted, changing the conditions for all weather. We live in a hotter climate than 50 years ago, and this extra energy in the system is influencing many types of extreme weather events, including conditions that lead to bushfires.
Australia has a long history of fire and already faces the regular risk of serious and extreme fire danger conditions. Over the past decade large and uncontrollable fires destroyed 500 houses in Canberra in 2003, bushfires in Victoria in 2009 took 173 lives and destroyed over 2,000 houses and in 2013 large fires in Tasmania destroyed nearly 200 properties and forced the evacuation of hundreds of people from the Tasman Peninsula.
Climate change can affect bushfire conditions by increasing the probability of extreme fire weather days. Many parts of Australia, including southern New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and parts of South Australia have seen an increase in extreme fire weather over the last 30 years. the projections for the future indicate a significant increase in dangerous fire weather for southeast Australia.
The Climate Council will be releasing a report on the link between bushfires and extreme weather in November 2013.
No comments:
Post a Comment