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Australian Climate: The Past 50 Years of Change

Explore the observational data from the Bureau of Meteorology, CSIRO, and peer organizations to understand the climate changes in Australia over the past 50 years. Discover the human climate drivers, temperature, rainfall, ocean temperature, and sea level rise. The data showcases the consistent and pervasive trends that are continuing today.

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Australian Climate: The Past 50 Years of Change

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  1. Australian Climate: The Past 50 Years of Change Mr Bruce Stewart Assistant Director (Climate and Oceans)

  2. Overview • Observational data from the Bureau of Meteorology, CSIRO and peer organisations • The past 50 years of change: • Human climate drivers - CO2 and Methane • Temperature • Rainfall • Ocean temperature • When were the hottest days and coldest nights • Sea level

  3. Observing the Human Drivers of Climate Change Little change until 1750 then an increase of more than 35%

  4. Observing the Human Drivers of Climate Change Little change until 1750 then concentrations nearly triple

  5. Australian Temperatures • Temperature has increased by about 0.7 C since 1960 • 2000 to 2009 was Australia’s warmest decade on record • 2005 was Australia’s warmest year on record, 2009 the second warmest

  6. Australian Temperatures • All of Australia has experienced warming over the past 50 years • Some areas, have experienced a warming of 1.5 to 2 C

  7. Australian Rainfall • Averaged over Australia, rainfall has increased by 10% in the past 50 years • Wet periods in the 1970s and late twentieth century were associated with La Niña events

  8. Australian Rainfall • Substantial increases in many parts of northern and central Australia • Substantial decreases across much of southern and eastern Australia

  9. Sea Surface Temperatures • Strongest warming trends are in the Tasman Sea and Indian Ocean • Total warming in these areas has reached up to 1C

  10. Sea Surface Temperatures • Sea Surface Temperatures around Australia have increased by about 0.4C in the past 50 years • 1998 was particularly warm, reflecting the very strong El Niño

  11. Changes in Maximum Temperature Extremes • Highest daily maximum temperatures tend to occur in recent years • More sites recorded highest daily maximum temperatures in 2009 than in any other year

  12. Changes in Maximum Temperature Extremes • Lowest daily maximum temperatures tend not to occur in recent years

  13. Change in Sea Level • Sea level rise averaged over the Australian region has been slightly less than the global rise • During 1993 to 2009, sea level rise has been 1.5 to 3 cm/decade in the south and east and 7 to 9 cm/decade in the north and west

  14. Change in Sea Level • Sea level rise averaged over the Australian region has been slightly less than the global rise • During 1993 to 2009, sea level rise has been 1.5 to 3 cm/decade in the south and east and 7 to 9 cm/decade in the north and west

  15. In Summary • Data from the Bureau, CSIRO and peer organisations shows a picture of pervasive and consistent trends • The trends are continuing • The quality of the data is high, and the base data are all available for scrutiny and analysis • Obtaining data: • www.bom.gov.au and webclim@bom.gov.au

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