"Remember to get the weather in your damn book--weather is very important."- Ernest Hemingway, 1932
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Articles by Ben Deacon
Prepare to burn - ABC listen
Alice Brennan: It’s kinda hard to believe that summer isn’t beginning for another two whole months. That’s because it’s October and in some parts of the country, the bushfire season began four weeks ago, it’s been the most devastating September in this country ever. Michael Gilbert: We're just looking at total devastation on the centre of our property like the fire come through and just burnt everything including animals and wildlife.
Drought decimated bogong moth numbers. Now flooding rains are bringing them back to the Australian Alps
It's an extraordinary journey. After hatching in breeding grounds across south-eastern Australia, the bogong moth spreads its wings as the weather warms up. The moths travel in their billions more than 1,000 kilometres to the coldest parts of the country: caves and crevices in the Australian Alps. They manage to navigate this incredible distance despite being only about 2 to 3 centimetres in length. Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume.
Australian floods of 1950s were driven by same weather forces behind this year's record rains
In the 1950s, flood and rain records were set in New South Wales that stood unchallenged for a lifetime. Until now. Key points: In the1950s, almost every river in New South Wales experienced major flooding As a result, the SES was formed, and dams and levees were built Similar climate drivers to 2022 drove the 1950s floods Condoblin's biggest flood was 1952. Until this year. Sydney's wettest year was 1950. Until this year. And New South Wales' wettest year ever was also 1950.
Extreme climate 'every few years' is agriculture's biggest challenge, says researcher
There's no such thing as an average year and farmers should recalibrate how they think of extreme weather events, says agronomist and agricultural researcher Kate Burke. Key points: Extreme weather events are predicted to increase in the future The chance of heavy rainfall events that can cause flash flooding is expected to rise Agriculture will face new challenges, with farming operations facing ever more uncertainty "We used to think of droughts and floods that happened once in a generation.
Strong Antarctic polar vortex adds to south-east Australian rainfall and flood risk, BOM says
A band of high-altitude winds that's surrounding Antarctica, known as the stratospheric polar vortex, is adding to the risk of increased rainfall in Australia's south-east this spring, according to the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM).
Australia remains at La Niña alert amid near-record Indian Ocean Dipole event
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has held off declaring a La Niña event in its latest Climate Driver Update, despite other countries around the world recognising La Niña to be already in effect.
La Niña sea temperatures driving floods in Australia and drought in the United States and Africa
Right now, a broad plume of cool water has pooled in the Pacific Ocean, west of South America. Key points: La Niña is still present, according to the US National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration Australia is yet to declare a third La Niña in a row, as we use stricter criteria La Niña is driving drought in East Africa and the United States It's the signature of La Niña.
Rain and flood records fall across New South Wales as temperatures in Queensland plummet Original
The epicentre of this week's flooding rains was a stunningly beautiful valley south of Sydney called Brogers Creek. Key points: Extreme rainfall totals have been recorded across New South Wales Flood records have been set on the Hawkesbury River and Wollombi Brook Queensland has seen its coldest pair of days in decades The rain gauge there recorded 933 millimetres of rain in four days to 9am Tuesday — more than the average annual rainfall for Canberra, Melbourne, or Adelaide.
If La Niña is gone, why is it still raining? And is it coming back? Original
The rains have returned with a vengeance little more than a week after the Bureau of Meteorology declared a flood-weary nation rid of a La Niña weather pattern.
'Things may deteriorate': More heavy rain for Sydney as largest floods in years surround city Original
An east coast low bearing down on Sydney overnight is forecast to drive further heavy rainfall on an already saturated catchment, leading to major floods on the Hawkesbury, Nepean, and Colo rivers.
BOM forecasts widespread rain along east coast as dry season rain streams in from Top End Original
Australia's east coast is set to receive a drenching this weekend as moisture streaming in from the tropics links up with a weather system from the south.
Global decrease in tropical cyclones identified by Australian scientists
Tropical cyclones are occurring less frequently around the world due to climate change, Australian scientists have found.
La Niña officially over, but Bureau of Meteorology says it might be back in spring Original
La Niña, the weather pattern that has lashed Australia with record rain and floods for months, has finally ended, according to the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM). But some models suggest La Niña may re-form in the southern hemisphere during spring for the third consecutive year. "As a result, the bureau's ENSO outlook status has moved to La Niña watch ," the BOM reported today in its climate driver update. "La Niña watch means there is about a 50 per cent chance of La Niña forming later in 2022.
Snowy Hydro's water problem shows how weather is driving our energy crisis
As Australia's power crisis began to ramp up early this month, Snowy Hydro was called on to increase production. But the hydro-electric generator remains significantly constrained by a surprising problem — too much water. It's only one example of how weather extremes have deepened the nation's man-made power crisis. Snowy Hydro's biggest power station is Tumut 3. At maximum output, it can generate 1,800 megawatts of electricity.
Australian snow, rain and heat linked by blocked weather systems, climatologist says Original
This week's near-record snowfalls in the east, and the days and days of upcoming rain forecast for Perth, share one crucial factor with the Lismore floods, last year's 49-degree Celsius heatwave in Canada, and many of Australia's most destructive extreme weather events.
Heavy rain, snow, cold winds and possible hail to sweep south-eastern Australia this weekend Original
South-eastern Australia will again be swept with wintry weather this weekend as another series of strong cold fronts hit the region. Key points: Up to 100mm of rain and 100cm of snow is predicted to fall before early next week Maximum temperatures will be about 6 degrees below average after the wet, wintry weather passes through The cold, wet conditions arriving from the south and the west mark the beginning of the end of La Niña, says weather forecaster Jackson Browne.
Global warming may have worsened series of flood disasters, says Bureau of Meteorology
A perfect storm of factors created conditions for devastating flooding across Queensland and NSW this year and global warming may have made them worse, says the Bureau of Meteorology.
Rain forecast for election day in eastern Australia, with sunny voting in most other regions
If you haven't pre-polled, Saturday is one day that almost all Australian adults have to leave the house to vote, rain, hail or shine. So what's the weather doing around Australia this election day? Jackson Brown from the Bureau of Meteorology said coastal and parts of inland Queensland could expect plenty of rain, with Brisbane set to cop between 25 and 35 millimetres. The rain will extend into New South Wales, where Sydneysiders can expect between 8 and 20mm.
As COP26 tries to shape the future, Australians are dealing with climate change now
Summer temperatures are soaring, those burnt out in the Black Summer are rebuilding, and water flows have been down for decades. As leaders gather in Glasgow, Australians are already dealing with the impacts of a warming planet. Gerald Muench is the first to admit his house in Macarthur Heights is nothing special. It is just a project home in a newly built western Sydney suburb that's filled with hundreds of other project homes. But his house stands out from the majority of his neighbours.
Southern coastal Queensland misses out on rain again as severe drought persists
Despite predictions of a wetter spring for much of eastern Australia, southern coastal Queensland received average or below average rainfall during September, prolonging at least 18 months of severe rainfall deficiencies in the region.
The 'slow creep of climate change' visible as ordinary winter in fact Australia's hottest on record
Australia has just experienced its fourth hottest winter since 1910, according to the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM). Key points: Australia has recorded its fourth warmest winter on record It was the wettest winter since 1996 The warm temperatures are in line with increased temperatures due to global warming "It has been generally warm just about everywhere," said Simon Grainger, a senior climatologist with the BOM.
Soggy spring set to follow wet winter in eastern Australia
Spring is set to be wet and warm in eastern Australia, according to the Bureau of Meteorology's seasonal outlook. Key points: Spring rainfall is likely to be above average in much of the east Maximum temperatures are likely to be above average for the northern tropics and far south-east Large parts of the eastern tropical Indian Ocean are warmer than average But below average rainfall is likely for parts of coastal Western Australia and south-west Tasmania.
BOM says rapidly deepening storm off coast of New South Wales brings Sydney's coldest day in 37 years
A rapidly deepening "bomb cyclone" off the New South Wales coast has brought damaging winds and surf south of Sydney. Key points: A storm is rapidly deepening off the New South Wales coast The storm is a "bomb cyclone", but not an east coast low It is not expected to have the impact of the most-severe weather categories Winds reached up to 130 kph in Kiama last night as the storm system intensified.
Hungry tropical fish, sea urchins marching south as kelp forests disappear
Like Nemo, tropical fish look out of place in southern waters, thousands of kilometres from their usual homes on the Great Barrier Reef on Queensland's eastern coast or at Ningaloo Reef, off Western Australia's coastline.
Super-outbreaks of fire thunderstorms could change Earth's climate, Australian and US experts warn
Fire thunderstorms — which occur in pyrocumulonimbus clouds — not only create their own weather system but may also be powerful enough to actually change the climate, according to scientists from Australia and the United States.
No scientific consensus yet on whether warming Arctic may lead to more extreme weather
In the past month alone, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands have suffered horrific flooding, Siberia caught fire, and the Arctic Sea suffered near-record melting.
Ski resorts welcome weekend snow dump, but cruel timing with COVID lockdowns
A season-saving dump of snow is forecast to hit alpine areas in Victoria and New South Wales this weekend as a series of cold fronts are predicted to drop almost a metre of snow on alpine resorts.
Temperature records tumble again in US, Canada as heatwave enters uncharted territory
Temperature records in Canada and the north-west United States have been smashed again, as a historic heatwave in the region lifts maximums up to 20 degrees above average.
California's rapid descent into extreme drought is a climate detective story - and the outcome could be disastrous
In the space of little more than a month California has plunged into a water crisis. Key points: The drought in California has rapidly intensified as dry soils soak up snowmelt, leaving dams dry California suffered record heat last summer A former fire chief says there's every chance another devastating fire season is on the way At the end of March, the US state's drought situation was severe and widespread, but only a small area was rated as being in exceptional drought.
Australia's hidden history of megadroughts captured in ancient tree rings
Scientists analysing growth rings of 700-year-old in native cypress trees in Western Australia's Wheatbelt say the region suffered a series of megadroughts lasting up to 30 years in past centuries.
After a near-record wet March in the south-east, we've just had a near-record dry April
New South Wales has just experienced one of its driest Aprils on record, after wading through its second-wettest March since records began in 1900, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
NSW floods break 120-year-old rain records during March rain event, BOM says
The entire New South Wales coast experienced its wettest week ever during last month's floods, according to a special report from the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM).
Carbon dioxide levels reach historic high as Joe Biden calls world leaders to climate talks
Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere reached a milestone 421 parts per million last weekend, the highest concentration in 3.6 million years according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Key points: Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere have reached 421 parts per million It's the highest concentration of CO2 in 3.6 million years Joe Biden has invited Scott Morrison to a climate summit in two weeks Go direct to the source Download the ABC News app for all the latest.
'Autumn predictability barrier' means April is the toughest month to make climate forecasts
After the recent record rain and the previous summer's record dry, what does this winter's climate have in store?
'One-in-100-years' flood talk disastrously misleading and should change, risk experts say
By Ben Deacon A one-in-100-year flood has a 1 per cent chance of occurring any year Town planners use one-in-100-year floods to decide where housing can be built One-in-100-year floods are probably not becoming more common in NSW What does it mean when a natural disaster is described as a "one-in-50-years" or "one-in-100-years" event? Well, not what most people think and that has to change, according to a leading risk assessment expert.
'One-in-100-years' flood talk disastrously misleading and should change, risk experts say
By Ben Deacon A one-in-100-year flood has a 1 per cent chance of occurring any year Town planners use one-in-100-year floods to decide where housing can be built One-in-100-year floods are probably not becoming more common in NSW What does it mean when a natural disaster is described as a "one-in-50-years" or "one-in-100-years" event? Well, not what most people think and that has to change, according to a leading risk assessment expert.
'One-in-100-years' flood talk disastrously misleading and should change, risk experts say
What does it mean when a natural disaster is described as a "one-in-50-years" or "one-in-100-years" event? Well, not what most people think and that has to change, according to a leading risk assessment expert.
Widespread rain to fall in all states as two storms form in Australia's east and west
© Provided by ABC NEWS Rain is extending from the Kimberley to Tasmania by early next week. (ABC: Chris Lewis) A deepening low off the New South Wales coast is due to meet a north-west cloud band stretching from the Kimberley to Tasmania. "It is a pretty intense set-up," said senior forecaster Jackson Browne from the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM).
Bitcoin may soon consume more power than all of Australia - as same as Google, Facebook and Amazon combined
Bitcoin has a climate problem. The cryptocurrency uses huge quantities of electricity and as the price of a single Bitcoin has skyrocketed beyond $50,000, Bitcoin miners are now producing as much carbon pollution as a medium-sized nation.
La Niña interrupts eight years of rising temperatures during soaking summer
Australia recorded its wettest summer in half a decade and its coolest in nine years as La Niña snapped an eight-year hot streak in 2020/21.
Around the world, regions with Mediterranean climates are drying out, and making bushfires worse
In the wake of the recent Wooroloo bushfires in Western Australia, fire experts have warned a long-term reduction in rainfall in the state's south-west is making blazes there worse.
Rainfall has dropped by 20 per cent since 1970 in this part of WA. So what are the locals doing about it?
When it comes to rainfall, south-west Western Australia has been hit by climate change harder than almost anywhere on earth, according to climatologist Pandora Hope from the Bureau of Meteorology.
Huntsman home invasions triggered by weather, spider expert says, and they'll eat each other rather than you Original
A spate of huntsman spider infestations reported in Sydney this week may be in response to recent changes in the weather, according to a renowned arachnologist at Queensland Museum.
Oceans absorbing 10 atomic bombs worth of heat every second
The world’s oceans absorbed 20 sextillion joules of heat due to climate change in 2020 and warmed to record levels, a study has found. That quantity – expressed numerically as 20,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 joules – is equivalent to the energy from 10 Hiroshima atomic bombs being released every second of the year. Report co-author Kevin Trenberth, from the US National Centre for Atmospheric Research, said oceans absorbed more than 90 per cent of the solar energy trapped by greenhouse gases.
World's oceans absorbed the heat of 10 nukes every second in 2020, study finds
The world's oceans absorbed 20 sextillion joules of heat due to climate change in 2020 and warmed to record levels, a study has found.
As the Arctic melts, scientists say a regime shift is taking place
The Arctic is changing faster than any environment on Earth. The old order is being swept away, leaving scientists to ask: What's coming in its place? Where there was once ice, there is now open ocean. Milky swirls of plankton, hundreds of kilometres in length, now bloom where polar bears once roamed. It is a spectacular sight looking down from space. Photo This plankton bloom was recorded off the coast of Siberia in September, 2018. Supplied: NASA Plankton is blooming off the coast of Siberia ...
2020 equals world's hottest year on record, as factors behind Black Summer become clearer
Thinning Arctic ice, more storms in the North Atlantic and record heat across Australia during La Niña during 2020 were some of the trademarks of the world's equal-hottest year on record, experts have warned.
Wild swimming and the search for Australia's best waterholes
Waterholes are filling up as rains return, yet even the driest parts of the country hide secret swimming spots of dazzling beauty. ABC Regional & Local has compiled a list of some of these treasures, rediscovered as the pandemic forces travellers to redraw their personal maps of joy and eye destinations closer to home. Fern Pool – WA Fed by an aquifer, the pools of Karijini are year-round deep-canyon waterholes — even in the heat of 40-degree summer days, the water remains icy cold.
Wild swimming and the search for Australia's best waterholes
By Ben Deacon and ABC Regional & Local reporters Posted December 30, 2020 06:00:06 Waterholes are filling up as rains return, yet even the driest parts of the country hide secret swimming spots of dazzling beauty. ABC Regional & Local has compiled a list of some of these treasures, rediscovered as the pandemic forces travellers to redraw their personal maps of joy and eye destinations closer to home.
Heat records have fallen around the world in 2020, says World Meteorological Organisation
© Provided by ABC NEWS Global temperatures are continuing to break records — from the Arctic to Death Valley. (Supplied: @ScottDuncanWX) 2020 will be one of the three warmest years on record globally, according to a new State of the Global Climate report from the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO). An agency of the United Nations, the WMO said only 2016 had been hotter than 2020 so far — and only by a small margin.
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