Australian climate report like 'disaster novel': minister Sun Jul 6,
5:39 AM ET
SYDNEY (AFP) - Heatwaves, less rain and increased drought are the
likely prospect for Australia, according to a new report on climate
change which the agriculture minister said read like a "disaster
novel".
The report, by the Bureau of Meteorology and the Commonwealth
Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, found that the
world's driest inhabited continent is likely to suffer more extreme
temperatures due to climate change.
It said that exceptionally hot years, which once occurred every 20
to 25 years, were more likely to hit every one or two years. And the
hotter weather could begin as soon as 2010.
Agriculture Minister Tony Burke said the assessment indicated that
the risk of drought would double, as would the area of Australia
declared to be in drought.
"Parts of these high level projections read more like a disaster
novel than a scientific report," he told reporters.
"What's clear is that the cycle of drought is going to be more
regular and deeper than ever."
The report is part of a government review of drought policy.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said the report, which found that the area
of Australia having an exceptionally hot year could increase from
just under five percent to as much as 95 percent, was "very
disturbing".
"The analysis shows that the extent and frequency of exceptionally
hot years have been increasing rapidly over recent decades and this
trend is expected to continue," the report concluded.
Rainfall, which has been falling since the 1950s -- partly due to
climate change -- is also likely to decline with southern Australia
and the southern island of Tasmania among the worst affected, it
said.
posted to ClimateConcern
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