More wind in Wellington says meteorologist.
Wellington’s weather is set to get worse as a result of climate change, Thapi
Makgabutlane, a Met Service Meteorologist told the club this week.
Wellington’s weather is set to get worse as a result of climate change, Thapi
Makgabutlane, a Met Service Meteorologist told the club this week.
In particular, it was going to get windier with more westerlies blowing in.
While weather was short term – what’s happening in the next two weeks-
climate was long term – what’s happening overt the next two years.
“Climate is what the sun is doing and the composition of the atmosphere,” she
said.
In the period 1750 to 2020 there had been a steady rise in average
temperatures around the world, and that rise had accelerated in the recent
decades.
The sun hadn’t changed much but the atmosphere had: exponential growth in
CO2 emissions was the main driver.
She said that this meant, the atmosphere would get warmed, the ocean would
absorb more heat, and glaciers would melt, and seas would rise.
For New Zealand she predicted that westerlies would get stronger, there’s be
more days above 25 degrees, fewer frost days, areas in the west and south
would be wetter, while the east and north would be drier.
Other changes would include a shorter ski season, greater fire danger, fewer
but more intense storms, and a rise in sea levels.
Wellington would experience most of those phenomena, but there’s also be
less chance of snow, and flooding would be more likely.
In response Thapi said we needed to speed up our response. “It is neither too
late to take action, nor is it the case that there is no need to do anything.”
John Bishop
Club reporter.
While weather was short term – what’s happening in the next two weeks-
climate was long term – what’s happening overt the next two years.
“Climate is what the sun is doing and the composition of the atmosphere,” she
said.
In the period 1750 to 2020 there had been a steady rise in average
temperatures around the world, and that rise had accelerated in the recent
decades.
The sun hadn’t changed much but the atmosphere had: exponential growth in
CO2 emissions was the main driver.
She said that this meant, the atmosphere would get warmed, the ocean would
absorb more heat, and glaciers would melt, and seas would rise.
For New Zealand she predicted that westerlies would get stronger, there’s be
more days above 25 degrees, fewer frost days, areas in the west and south
would be wetter, while the east and north would be drier.
Other changes would include a shorter ski season, greater fire danger, fewer
but more intense storms, and a rise in sea levels.
Wellington would experience most of those phenomena, but there’s also be
less chance of snow, and flooding would be more likely.
In response Thapi said we needed to speed up our response. “It is neither too
late to take action, nor is it the case that there is no need to do anything.”
John Bishop
Club reporter.