is it really getting hotter in here? or is it just me?

[Argonavis]

The bug-a-boo of climate change once again takes the front page of the Australian. Despite all the hype and hysteria, the article:


http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20876,20330346-28737,00.html


is an excellent summary of the high level debate and broad overview of state of the science.

[acropolite]

In Tassie, we have had the driest winter on record for 150 years. IMO it's about time our pollies started to take global warming seriously. Even if the global warming we are currently experiencing is a natural phase, we have nothing to lose by taking action to minimise our impact on the environment.

[mattweather]

Northern Rivers is only the wettest place in NSW and is one of wettest place in Australia. We didn't have drought since 2002. Anyway, every year after and after keeps getting wetter here since then. We had some type of monsoon earlier this year brought over average rainfalls. We has several months of average rainfall esp Winter did. Oh yes, we started having thunderstorms in Winter too! Now that seems freaky which it stormy all year round for Northern Rivers. Storms did not quit thier occurances since 2004 best season. Hope something good for this storm season which had started yesterday!:)

[sheeny]

I'm not sure what's the bigger threat, global warming or deforestation. In some ways the two are linked.

In terms of warming, though, I have witnessed change in the last 20 years or so. Whather that change is part of a natural cycle or GW I'm not sure. Being in a sub-alpine area, Oberon (IMO) seems to be well placed to judge any warming effects.

When I moved here 20 years ago, we would get 5 to 10 significant snow falls a year. We haven't a had a significant one in the last 5 that I can remember. We used to have snow by or on Easter, but not the last few years. Last years we had snow lay for only one day. This year it hasn't laid at all, and we've only had a 2 days that I've seen snow fall in town. And it hasn't been that dry.

Talking to the locals, yes they used to get bigger snow falls years ago than I've experienced here... but is it GW or a natural variation? I don't know.

GW is a process we know about. It is plausible and real. All that's really debatable is the degree of the effect. If its already significant, then we are a bit late doing something about it, but better late than never. If it is not yet significant, nows the time to do something about it.

Al.

[Striker]

I agree with you Phil,

It's possible this is all part of the natural evolution...I was reading that some of our most extreme temperture changes were back in the early 1900's with the hottest days on record being in the 1960"s....but we should be preparing ourselves for the future reducing both land clearing & greenhouse gas.

By shares in aircondition company's.

[acropolite]

Heard on the news today a projected rise or 1.5 to 6 degrees by the end of the century. If it's the latter I'm glad I won't be around.....Apparently we may not be getting the full effect of global warming as particle pollution is causing a reduction in sunlight and moderating the effect of greenhouse pollution. (see Global Dimming (http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/content/2005/s1325819.htm)) Records show that over the past 50 years the average amount of sunlight reaching the ground has gone down by almost 3% a decade.
The fear is that as we burn coal and oil more cleanly, and dimming is reduced, the full effects of global warming will be unleashed.

[jjjnettie]

It's a worrying situation.
Are we raising the last generation of our current civilisation?
Because big changes are ahead. Not only will they have to contend with the effects of global warming but their whole lifestyle will change with the depletion of oil supplies. It's not only that petrol will be unaffordable, they'll have to do without other petroleum based products Can you imagine life without plastic?
It's an unimaginable future.

[Ric]

Last year was the hottest and dryest on record for Australia and this year will probably exceed that again. As a volunteer firefighter we have already been told to expect more extreme days (total fire bans) and also of longer durations. In most of NSW the bush fire season has already been declared as of Sept 1st
I think that we really have to start pouring more money into alternative energy such as solar and wind, the results will not be seen this century but we can make a start for the next century. The governments of today and tomorrow have to pull the heads out of the sand and stop thinking as far as the next election.

cheers