In the article: “Summary for policymaker”, the figure
on page 7 shows widespread impacts around the world that can a result of global
warming. The impacts that can strike Australia is physical, biological and
human and manage. The physical systems impacts mainly rivers and lakes, which
can experience flooding or drought. The range of physical impacts in Australia
is considered high. The biological system will impact terrestrial ecosystems in
both north and south of the continent, and the range is considered medium to
high. Marine ecosystem is also impacted. Especially the world largest coral
reef; the Great Barrier Reef, is in danger. Human and managed systems like food
production will be impacted and the range is considered medium.
According to the same article on page 23, there are 3
main regional key risks in Australia. The first one is change in community
composition and structure of coral reef systems. In the long term, the risk and
potential adaptation is considered very high. Ocean acidification, damaging
cyclones and warming are factors for this. The second key risk is increased frequency
and intensity of flood damage to infrastructure and settlements. The climatic
driver is extreme precipitation. Risk and potential for adaptation is also
considered very high in the long term, but not as high as the change in the
coral reef. The third key risk is increased risks to coastal infrastructure and
low-laying ecosystems, with widespread damage towards, the upper end of
projected sea level rise rangers. The climatic drivers are damaging cyclones
and sea level rise. Risk and potential for adaptation is considered medium to
high in the long term.
Climate
Phenomena and their relevance for Future Regional Climate Change
Northern Australia is located in the tropics, which is
affected by the Australia monsoon circulation. The southern part is located in
the extratropical westerly circulation which is affected by the middle latitude
storm track and other threats. Eastern Australia is affected by both El Nino
(dry conditions) and La Nina (wet conditions). It is very likely that Australia
will continue to warm due to the global warming, and that will increase or
change dramatically the climate and weather conditions over Australia. There are
records that changes have already occurred because of small change in temperature,
like increase in precipitations due warmer temperature in some places and drier
conditions in La Nina years. All of the weather conditions in the different
parts of Australia mentioned above, can increase and that will have
dramatically effect.
Summary from the future regional climate change in
Australia, page 1273
Summarize
of the executive summary
The trend of a warmer climate in Australia has already
begun and is going to continue through the 21st century. Australia
has already noticed warmer ocean- and surface temperatures, more hot extremes
and fewer colder periods. Also change in rainfall patterns and increased
greenhouse gases that already have cause warmer temperatures. The tropical cyclones
are projected to increase in intensity in just a few years, and that will be
dangerous. The change in annual rainfall will impact agriculture, rural
livelihoods, ecosystems and urban water supplies. These threats have already occurred
in a small level, but can increase rapidly in just a few years. Coral reefs in
northern Australia have already noticed change due to global warming. Higher
ocean surface temperatures have bleached huge amount of corals, and are
continuing to do so. There are a lot of factors that depends on future
vulnerability. Unfortunately, too few of them have got too little attention,
and that has to change.
Most
interesting threat
The economics in Australia rely on natural resources,
agriculture, minerals, manufacturing and tourism. All of these factors are, and
will be affected by climate change. Australia is known their agriculture, and
it would be a disaster if this got affected. Also the tourism in country makes
up a huge amount of the countries economics. A fast change in global warming
can affect any of these factors without giving the inhabitants the opportunity
to adopt themselves. In this case, this can have a dramatically effect on the
economics in Australia. The economics of a country is important because it
affects all the inhabitants, and this is why I think this threat was most
interesting. I have always cared about my own economic, but also the economics
of a country. That is why I care.
I have included one map of Australia showing how the anuual temperature have changed in the 21st century. The colors indicates temperatures, which is shown in the image below.
The grapht below shows how surface temperature have changed since 1900, and how it is predicted to change until 2100.
Both of image and graph is taken from the article in the link below on page 1378 and 1379.
