Hot, Hotter, Hottest
The greatest policy challenge of our (or anyone’s) lifetime.
Australia recently experienced its hottest day since records began a century ago.
The national temperature is the average of hundreds of daily readings across the country and it hit 40.3 degrees.
Australia’s first six days of 2013 were all among the hottest 20 days on record in terms of average maximums
Temperatures have now gone above 50 degrees celsius [ that’s 122 degrees Fahrenheit for those that need it] and the Bureau of Meteorology’s interactive weather forecasting chart has added new colours to extend its previous temperature range to create an extended index.
Some extra food for thought.
Annual Mean Surface Temperature
From the Australian Government Department on Climate Change…
In late 2011, Professor Ian Plimer, a geology professor and expert mineralogist with no background in climate science, released his latest book How to get expelled from school: a guide to climate change for pupils, parents and punters.
In response to Professor Ian Plimer’s 101 questions on climate change science, the department provides Accurate Answers (PDF 1.4 MB). The answers and comments provided are intended to give clear and accurate responses to Professor Plimer’s questions. The answers are based on up-to-date peer-reviewed science and have been reviewed by a number of Australian climate scientists.
A final word from Australia’s CSIRO, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation. It is Australia’s national science agency and one of the largest and most diverse research agencies in the world.
In the past century, the global average surface temperature has risen by 0.74 ºC. The observed increase in average temperatures is widespread around the globe, with rising trends recorded on all continents and in the oceans.
Links:
- Australian Interactive Weather Map
- Temperature of the Charts as Australia Turns Deep Purple. (The Age)
- Global Climate Variability and Change ( Australian Bureau of Meteorology)
- Australian Academy of Science – (Climate Change)
- CSIRO – (Understanding Climate Change)
- The Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow (Challenges Climate Science) & CFACT (Direct Link)
