coolsydney.net.au

The impacts of climate change are predicted to be wide and varied. They may include:

* Sea levels are currently rising by 3mm per year. This rate is increasing.

* Snow cover is decreasing. Frozen ground in northern hemisphere high latitudes (Siberia) – the so-called permafrost is now thawing. As it does so, it’s releasing greenhouse gases from the soil and wetlands underneath. This is what’s called a feedback mechanism. It’s also causing buildings to collapse and roads to break apart in Siberia and Alaska.

* Mountain glaciers are shrinking. The European Alps have halved in size since 1850. The loss of glaciers and the resulting flow of melt water in the Andes and the Himalayan region is having massive impacts on the populations that rely on their flow. (Most of India's and China’s major rivers flow from the Himalayan glaciers providing water to more than one billion people.)

* Over in China the eastern gateway to the Silk Road - the Hexi corridor - is being flooded as the glaciers that surround it melt away. Like in other places around the world, arid regions that sit next to glaciers will suffer a spate of floods and will then dry up completely when the glaciers melt away. Click here to read more about the melting glaciers in the Himalayas. Click here to read more about melting glaciers along the Silk Road.

* The melting ice cap at the North Pole is destroying the habitat of seals, walruses and polar bears. This ice reflects the sunlight back into space. No ice means no reflection - more heat is absorbed by the ocean melting more ice. Another feedback mechanism that is exacerbating climate change rates.

* Greenland and Antarctica are both shedding ice, adding to sea level rises. There was a major collapse of the Larsen B ice shelf in Antarctica in 2002. It was predicted to be stable until 2100. The Wilkins ice shelf is hanging on by a 500 metre wide thread.

* Drought has increased in number and frequency. The current drought being experienced in many parts of NSW is one of the worst on record.

* We are experiencing more powerful hurricanes and typhoons due to increased water temperatures.

* We are also experiencing heavier rainfall and more destructive winds.

* Heatwaves have increased in frequency and severity.  This will lead to a rise in heat-related deaths and increased pressure on emergency services. In early 2009 Sydney experienced some of its hottest days ever! Image shows projected increase in days over 35ºC - Click on image to enlarge

Just watch the news at night and tick off the extraordinary or seasonally unusual weather events happening right now.