Climate Change In Australia

Climate Change

The South West of Australia is experiencing the effect of climate change much like the rest of the world, climate change is a change in global or regional climate patterns. Factors such as GHG emissions and pollution are contributing to the change in the climate and result in changes of environmental factors such as rainfall and temperature.

The South West of Australia has a predominantly Mediterranean climate with heavier rainfall and colder temperatures in the winter months and lower to no summer rainfall and higher temperatures.

For the future, projections are based on the past averages. Past rainfall trends have depicted prolonged dry periods from the 1970s to present. The physical mechanisms that are driving the decrease

in rainfall are the southward shift of winter storm systems and greater prevalence of high pressure systems. There looks to be a continuing trend of decreasing rainfall through the winter, continuing to decrease into spring. There is an expected change in summer and autumn however what these changes are to be is unclear.

We Can see an increasing trend in the mean temperature across time, based on recordings. In the diagram above we see that from 1910 - 2014 (left), the South West Of WA is generally in between the 0.10 to 0.20 category, however if we shorten the time span coming to a smaller average of data and more recent set, looking at 1970 to 2014 (right), the South West of WA is generally found to be in between 0.15 and 0.30, mean trend in temperature annually. Therefore as we move to more recent times our temperature mean has increased. This is also depicted on the graph below. From approximately 2002 onwards all mean temperature anomaly’s with the exception of one (a very low minus), have been positive increases in temperature of up to almost one degree celsius, compared to the past where relatively almost all years were a negative decrease in temperature.

Rainfall has been similarly reflected, as seen below. On average in recent years there has been much less rainfall comparatively to in the past. Ranging from -5.0 to -30.0 from 1910-2014 in the South West, and then in later years and a shorter time span -5.0 to -4.0 from 1970-2014. Showing a larger decrease in rainfall.Climate Change Impacts

Climate change impacts on both the natural environment as well as the human environment in terms of urban and rural developments. An impact on one area can often lead to an impact on another.

Threats to Biomes and Ecosystems
On an environmental level, our biomes and ecosystems in the south west of Western Australia are being threatened, most plants and animals do not have the time it takes to adapt to the quickly changing climate, in particular species that rely on a cool, wet habitats.
The Tingle Forests comprised primarily of Eucalyptus jacksonii, they are closely associated with the higher hills in the area and granite rocks. Located between Warpole and Denmark, they are an example of a species that relies on rainfall, to thrive and continue to grow. While covering a vast amount of area, the distribution of the forest has decreased and continues to decrease, due to the lack of rainfall as a result of climate change.
The Carnaby’s black Cockatoo is an example of an animal which is in jeopardy of extinction due to climate change.

While other factors have contributed to the endangerment of the species, climate change is largely influential, as it affects their habitats and breeding grounds, as these areas decrease in distribution, there becomes greater competition for nest hollows/sites and factors such as food with other animals. As the species becomes unable to depend on their habitat, either losing their niche or unable to compete, they become at risk. The red-capped parrot like the Carnaby’s black Cockatoo is another species that is affected by climate

change.

Effects on Water Supply
Our annual level of rainfall is rapidly decreasing, and this has an affect on our urban water supply. Our critical factor is runoff, water captured in dams and other storages, and the shortage of it rather than changes in rainfall itself. With increasing temperatures, rates of evaporation and water loss are increasing, with a decreasing means to preserve and replace it (rainfall).

Impacts of Sea Level rise
Sea level rise is a large problem for the south west of WA as the rising levels will exacerbate existing vulnerability to flooding and beach erosion. Mixed with storm surges, sea level rise will create more regular flooding events which are likely to damage the small towns and coastal areas as well as supporting infrastructure.

Changes to Agricultural Patterns
Agriculture as a whole seems to be one of the most vulnerable areas affected by climate change. While not completely included in the South West, the West Australian Wheatbelt is suffering due to climate change and the rising of temperatures are expected to reduce crop sizes and quality.

Adaption and Mitigation

Adaption - Declining water resources
Recycled water is waste water(sewage) that is treated. So that it can then be used for landscaping irrigation, to recharge groundwater aquifers, to meet commercial and industrial water needs. By recycling water, we are reusing the water we already have in areas that it can be reused to save our fresh water for what it is needed, therefor looking after our water supply. The Kwinana water recycling plant is the largest in Perth. The plant provides approximately 17 million litres per day through a specialised pipe network to Industrial areas.

Kwinana is Perth’s industrial hub of Perth, and they too look to conserving as much water as possible for future generations, so that despite the continued levels of decreasing rainfall volumes we are saving and conserving water.

The plant has been supplying the industrial area businesses with the water since 2004, this has resulted in the area almost halving their use of precious drinking scheme water, which is needed for many other areas outside of industry.

The water at the Kwinana water Recycling plant comes from the Woodman point waste water treatment plant, at the Kwinana plant it is put through a reverse osmosis system. The plant is largely aiding in the target set to reuse 30% of Perth’s waste water by 2030.

Kwinana water Recycling plant provides the Kwinana industrial area, with large amounts of water that is recycled which leads to conservation of drinking water that needs to be used elsewhere. The recycling plant leads to hundreds of litres saved per month.

Mitigation - Alternative generation of Energy

Carnegie Wave Energy is a clean and effective way of producing energy, it is based off of Garden island and while it currently only provides power to the island itself it is a good example of what is to come and the technology being developed to help provide alternatives for energy that don’t hurt our

environment.

Adaption - Construction to Prevent Erosion
The Quinns Beach Erosion Works were set into motion and completed by the 31 October 2014. Along a 280 metre stretch the works looked to prevent complete erosion of the beach and prevent damage to the surrounding urban areas, in particular protecting the remaining infrastructure in Fred Stubbs Park. For this to happen several works included:
• Construction of a 280m Geosynthetic Sand Container (GSC) revetment;
• Construction of a rock revetment to tie in the GSC revetment with the existing Quinns Beach groyne;
• Construction of a 180m limestone retaining wall between the GSC revetment and Fred Stubbs Park;
• Beach re-nourishment in front of the Quinns Beach carpark;
• Installation of matting and vegetation in all disturbed dune areas and in between the limestone retaining wall and GSC revetment;
• Maintenance of the Quinns Beach groynes; and
• Reinstatement of Fred Stubbs Park.
(From City of Waneroo website - Quinns Beach Erosion works page)
Without greatly impacting the environment the Quiinns Beach Erosion Works have looked to preserve the beach and surrounding areas with minimal disturbance, carrying out what was required effectively