New must read CSIRO and BOM report on climate change in Australia

"Two of Australia's leading climate science agencies – the CSIRO and Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) - have produced a snapshot of the state of the climate to update Australians about how their climate has changed and what it means".

The report is just 6 pages long and written for a general audience but provides essential information to understand how the Australian climate has changed over the last 50 years and how it will likely change into the future.

Download the report here

Key conclusions include:

1) Temperatures over the whole Australian continent has risen over the last 50 year, with increases in the number of record hot days and decreases in the occurrence of record cold.

2) Rain fall has been variable but has decreased significantly in the south east and south west.

3) Sea level has risen over the last century, with the speed of sea level rise almost doubling by the late 20th century.

4) Concentrations of heat trapping greenhouse gasses, which are measured in Australia and in other locations around the world, are rising rapidly.

5) Climate change is already visible across Australia, caused by humans and will cause this country will become hotter, and in many places, drier as this century progresses.

None of these conclusions will be a surprise to people familiar with the science and effects of climate change, but if you want a short, easy to read primer on climate change in Oz, look no further.