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CLIMATE CHANGE and ASTRONOMY. Derek McNally Centre for Astrophysics Research University of Hertfordshire UK. TEMPERATURE and PRECIPITATION RANGES for GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS having MAJOR ASTRONOMICAL FACILITIES. all temperatures show positive increase DJF = December January February
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CLIMATE CHANGE and ASTRONOMY Derek McNally Centre for Astrophysics Research University of Hertfordshire UK Derek McNally
TEMPERATURE and PRECIPITATION RANGES for GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS having MAJOR ASTRONOMICAL FACILITIES all temperatures show positive increase DJF = December January February JJA = June July August source IPCC Climate Change 2001 Derek McNally
CONCLUSION • Given that the timescales for climate change and observatory lifetimes are converging, it is time for the astronomical community to do 2 things: • To initiate consideration of those aspects of observational astronomy likely to be affected by climate change. • When the astronomical aspects are decided, to collaborate with the meteorological community to obtain adequate modelling for significant observatory sites. • I can only hope that somewhere such thinking has already started. Derek McNally