El Nino lulls lead to harsh floods, fires and droughts: study | p_hannam
The researchers, including Agus Santoso from the University of NSW and Michael McPhaden from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, derived their findings by applying the so-called butterfly effect on computer models to see how tiny changes in initial conditions affect eventual El Nino activity.
El Nino events are marked by rainfall patterns shifting eastwards away from Australia and south-east Asia, with western parts of South America often hit by flooding. La Nina years – including possibly this one by spring,– are the reverse, with Australia typically hit by more cyclones and heavy rain. The lull, playing out over most of the first two decades of the 21 century, amounted to a reduction of 13 per cent in ENSO activity, Dr Cai said. The modelling indicates that suppressed activity will be countered by a projected increase in ENSO variability by as much as 37 per cent from the 2000-19 level, the paper concludes.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Farmers facing continued challenges but 'have got on the with the job' | Sky News AustraliaAgriculture Minister David Littleproud says despite the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic conditions, Australian agriculture will increase to $61 billion this financial year. \n\n“Farmers across the country have faced numerous challenges, drought, flood, fire and now COVID-19, but they have continued to get on with the job and have been the economic back bone of this country,” he said.\n\n“The export of meat and live animals is up 35 per cent on the five-year average, horticultural exports are up 34 per cent on the five-year average and this year's winter crop will in fact beat the 10-year average”.\n\nThe Agriculture billions had been spent by the government to support the agricultural sector through the droughts, fires and floods.\n\nHe said a key measure implemented in response to drought was a “$4 billion investment in the Regional Investment Corporation allowing farmers to refund $2 billion of their debt from a commercial bank with no interest and no repayment for two years”.\n\n“That is money we are taking out of big banks' pockets and back into farmers' pockets,” he said.\n\n“We are seeing economic growth in these communities from these measures that are supporting not just agriculture but supporting regional communities”. \n
Read more »
Nationals Senator hits back at ‘hypocritical’ anti-coal rhetoric by Coalition MP's | Sky News AustraliaA win in the senate for the Coalition will allow a feasibility study to go ahead on the controversial Collinsville plant proposal, according to Nationals Senator Matt Canavan.\n\nThe feasibility study for the coal-fired power plant in north Queensland was promised by the Coalition ahead of the 2019 election.\n\nHowever, the project has not met with universal acceptance within the Coalition ranks, a number of members claiming there are more efficient, environmentally friendly and financially viable ways to produce electricity.\n\nMr Canavan said “if those views were right, why is Japan, China, Korea and India all doing the wrong thing continuing to build and use coal-fired power”.\n\n“I think those billions of people in those communities might just be right and the views of some MP’s in inner-city electorates may be more informed by their own electorates”.\n\nThe Nationals Senator pointed out the hypocrisy of MP’s from NSW who were against the proposal when 80 per cent of the power in the state of NSW is produced by coal-powered fire stations.\n\nAt present, there are zero coal-powered fire stations in North Queensland.\n\n“I want to see more power stations built in this country because I want to see Australia bring back manufacturing jobs to this country,” Mr Canavan said. \n
Read more »
'Daniel Andrews is crashing the economy': Barnaby Joyce | Sky News AustraliaNationals MP Barnaby Joyce says Victorian Premier Daniel Andrew’s is crashing the economy by enforcing harsh lockdowns throughout the state. \n\nTwenty five of Victoria’s councils have zero active cases, yet they abide by the same lockdown rules that exist in places like Melbourne.\n\n“On the 1st of July 1851 from the headwaters of the Murray to Cape Howe, for some unknown reasons, a colonial person … created the state of Victoria, an arbitrary line determined by a river,” Mr Joyce told Sky News host Paul Murray.\n\n“And now that that person is using that arbitrary line to differentiate two areas which are epidemiologically the same, that is, they have no virus.\n\n“We should have stronger regional focus, and not state focus, because the state focus is an anachronism.” \n\nImage: Getty
Read more »
'Immunity may not be fleeting': Coronavirus antibody study offers good news for vaccine effortsAntibodies people make to fight coronavirus last at least four months after diagnosis and do not fade quickly as some earlier reports suggested, scientists have found.
Read more »
Cheap steroids can help the sickest coronavirus patients, studies revealNew studies confirm that multiple types of steroids improve survival for severely ill COVID-19 patients, cementing the cheap drugs as a standard of care.
Read more »
Steroids confirmed to help severely ill coronavirus patientsNew studies confirm that multiple types of steroids improve survival for severely ill COVID-19 patients, cementing the cheap drugs as a standard of care.
Read more »