Despite reluctance on the
part of many bureaucrats to acknowledge the impacts of climate change,
scientific evidence is mounting to present the picture of a drier,
hotter climate for many areas of Australia. Global warming is predicted
to escalate the magnitude, ferocity and frequency of fires in the near
future.
The Australian Government
Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency
tells us:
"It is difficult to precisely
predict what the impacts of climate change will be, as they vary with
each region. Best estimates are that by 2030 Australia will face:
-
a
further 1˚C of
warming in temperatures
-
up to 20 per cent
more months of drought
-
up to 25 per cent
increase in days of very high or extreme fire danger
-
increases in
storm surges and severe weather events."
"Climate change is also
expected to contribute to an increase in the number of extreme bushfire
days in parts of NSW.... Research suggests that by 2020 fire seasons
will start earlier and end slightly later, while being generally more
intense throughout their length, with these changes becoming more
pronounced by 2050.
An increase in mean temperatures and a decrease in rainfall and relative
humidity will likely amplify the fire danger in south eastern forests,
with increased fire frequency and extent of area burned."
This was taken from:
http://www.climatechange.gov.au/climate-change/impacts/national-impacts/nsw-impacts.aspx
Greg Watts, Ranger, Deua
National Park, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service sums up the
research from the Australian Government Greenhouse Office. Even back in
2002 the evidence was being assembled:
