Question: From your studies, what significant changes are to happen in the next decade in result of global warming?

Asked by tishan to Posty, Nathan on 15 Jun 2011. This question was also asked by lemontree2.

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  1. Photo: David PostDavid Post
    answered on 15 Jun 2011:

    Hi Tishan,

    For the next decade, changes will be relatively small. The global temperature will increase by only a few-tenths of a degree, and there will be a higher risk of drought for south east and south west Australia. Sea levels will rise by another few mm.

    However, further into the century, changes in climate will become greater, and effects will become more obvious. We predict a 1 degree temperature increase by 2030 and 2 degrees by 2060. This will change atmospheric circulation such that for example droughts will become more common across southern Australia and sea levels will rise by a cm.

    After that, it depends on what action is taken to reduce greenhouse gases. The changes to around 2060 are irreversible as the carbon dioxide is already in the atmosphere. How much more we put in will determine longer term (hundreds of years) changes.

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