tiabunna's photos with the keyword: climate change

Over recent weeks there's been severe weather in eastern Australia. My area has been fortunate to have been spared the ongoing record floods affecting places further up the coast, but an unusual weather pattern did bring gale force winds which have resulted in major beach erosion. In one area the breaking waves crossed the beachfront (see PiP1), passed under the trees, across the road behind and almost to the houses in the background. The following day I took the image (in PiP 2) of the reducing but still significant waves. At Andy's request, the PiPs are now viewable as separate images. This seems very appropriate with the release in the past few days of the 3rd part of the report of the expert Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The IPCC report stresses the need for urgent action to limit emissions and minimise the effects of climate change which include extreme weather.

The dunes at our local beach are gradually but steadily being eroded. This is entirely consistent with what is expected due to rising sea levels associated with climate change. The causes are melting ice from glaciers and ice caps, plus expansion of the ocean water as its temperature rises. As explained in this link, ocean levels have risen by about 25cm since 1880 and the rate has increased to about 3cm a decade now. No wonder the people on low-lying islands are concerned!

Today around Australia, tens of thousands of people rallied as part of the worldwide People's Climate March rallies, which will conclude in New York with a march led by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, before the leaders of most countries meet to consider further action on climate change. We live in a country area, but there was a People's Climate Picnic in a small town nearby. Not surprisingly the group was hardly large by city standards, but enthusiasm is what counts. The group marched to a nearby church where the bell was rung to mark the event, then listened to a talk before returning to the park for a pleasant lunch picnic. Further images in notes. Addendum: I understand that over one million people marched in this global event. Now let's hope the politicians can take the message and do something constructive about this!