Submitted by ruckrover, Apr 24, 2007 07:44

Bernhard cites Australia as an example of why climate change propenents are able to have it both ways. His tone is cynical suggesting it is all a lot of hot air.

But here in Australia it is a painful reality. For 30 years the weather patterns have been changing and there is no sign so far of them returning to "normal".

This is said to reflect the fact Australia has been one area where global warming has not been impeded by the clouds of pollution sulphate particles that have minimised warming over Asia and Nth America and caused cooling over much of Europe and Nth America in the years after WWII. Also the oceans have absorbed much of the warming and Australia is surrounded by them. This warm water has caused marine specied to migrate south towards Antarctica, but the Great Barrier Reef cannot move at that sort of speed and hence is dying.

The northern parts of Australia have become wetter associated with air pollution from Asia collecting and condensing moisture as it comes down over the tropical seas. But the really catstrophic effect has been the cold rain-bearing fronts from the southern ocean around Antarctica have contracted southwards. Thus southern Australia where most people live has become drier and drier and the recent El Nino pattern further dried things out.

Climate change is going to be very bad for Australia. Did I say "going to be"? NO, IT IS REALLY BAD RIGHT NOW.

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