BOM declares first El Niño in 8 years and positive Indian Ocean Dipole

[gary]

Tues 19 Sept 2023 The Australia Bureau of Meteorology has declared the El Niño weather pattern is active over the Pacific for the first time in eight years.

At a press conference on Tuesday afternoon the bureau also announced a "positive" Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) has also developed.

The onset of the two major climate events means the remaining months of 2023 in Australia are likely to be hot and dry, particularly in the eastern states.

Combined with the background warming of climate change, climate scientists have warned Australia could be in for a summer of severe heat.

Story here at ABC :-
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-19/bom-officially-declares-el-nino-underway-2023/102495394

[alpal]

Thanks Gary,
on a positive note -
I think amateur astronomers and imagers will be hoping
that El Niño will give drier weather leading to less cloudy nights
and better seeing conditions?

cheers
Allan

[strongmanmike]

This is already clearly happening Al :thumbsup:...of course, we all know the the down side :sadeyes:

The killer around my area is the notorious Spring time North westerly winds :windy:...also not good for the down side :sadeyes: eg. We have an out of control fire 14km from us at the moment...

Mike

[Nikolas]

I think Dylan sums it up best
https://youtube.com/shorts/I-Puls4KP9s?si=JjTtxrSk6nbiLHNS

[strongmanmike]

:lol:

[alpal]

Well Mike ,
the whole of Australia wants to see you getting sub 1 arc second seeing
and dozens of clear nights in a row. :)


The only thing is you'll need a fire break on your observatory.
Can you make it using a lawn mower?
Cut the grass down to 1mm long.

cheers
Allan

[strongmanmike]

Gee, that'd be great but cant see 1" happening :( buuuut (per Maxim) 1.4"-1.6" has been enjoyed a few times, so I'm happy enough with that...but if I do ever get down to single figures, hey, you will be the first to know ;) :love:



Yup, onto it, this weekend probably...?

Mike

[alpal]

Hi Mike,
you'll get down to sub arc second seeing -
even if it's for only 3 hours on one night -
maybe between about 1am and 4am ?

I hope the lawnmower is a good one?

cheers
Allan