Guest essay by Eric Worrall
As the La Niña surface warms in the Western Pacific bringing much-needed rainfall to arid regions of Australia, the Climate Council urges people to remember that warmer temperatures are bad.
Steam and Storms: CLIMATE CHANGE AND SUMMER 2021-22
La Niña is set to form Australia in summer 2021-22 with above-average precipitation forecast for the eastern parts of the continent; increase flood risk. Most of Australia, with the exception of some parts of the south-east, will experience higher-than-average summer temperatures.
This explainer distills the latest advice from the Bureau of Meteorology on what to expect this summer. It takes the risks of extreme weather, takes a close look at the impact of La Niña – the dominant climate agent that influences our weather today – and puts it all in the context of a changing climate. our change.
…
The odds are stacked (potentially 1.5 to 3 times higher) because of some unusually high maximum temperatures for most of the country in the far southeast. Daytime temperatures can be lower than average in eastern NSW.
…
What extreme weather risks are we looking at this summer?
The Bureau of Meteorology’s summer outlook for 2021-22 suggests it will likely be wetter than average for eastern parts of the continent, with a higher risk of heavy rainfall and widespread flooding for these areas.
When it comes to cyclones, there are typically more cyclones in La Niña years in regional Australia than in non-La Niña years. During La Niña 2010-12, there were a number of notable cyclones, including Cyclone Yasi – one of the strongest and most expensive storms in Australia’s history. More than one severe tropical cyclone makes landfall in Queensland each year, which is La Niña year. The Bureau of Meteorology has predicted average to slightly above average number of tornadoes for the 2021-22 season.
…
Read more: https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/steamy-stormy-climate-change-summer-2021-22/
If La Niña’s mild warming can bring this much-needed rainfall to Australia, imagine if there were permanent warming over the entire surface of the Pacific Ocean. Imagine if Australia, California, Arizona, Western Mexico, the Atacama Desert, and all the other arid regions bordering the Pacific Ocean had wetter climates all the time, instead of just one visit to La Niña or El Niño temporarily increases local sea surface temperatures.
The entire Pacific Rim would be a garden, with formerly deserts overgrown with wildflowers and trees, and lush farms brimming with prosperity.
But nothing like this could ever happen in my life, sadly.
Related
