By JOHN ELDERNovember 15, 2009 THOUSANDS of muttonbirds – upon arriving in Australia to breed – have been found dead along the Victorian and NSW coasts in the past two weeks. The birds, properly known as short-tailed shearwaters, probably died from exhaustion and malnutrition following their migratory flight to Australia from the Arctic Pacific. The […]
By Deborah Zabarenko, Environment Correspondent WASHINGTON (Reuters) – In another sign of a warming planet, there were twice as many record-high temperatures in the United States as record lows over the last decade, climate scientists reported on Thursday. This does not mean there are no record lows, just that there are fewer of them, said […]
By TOM ARUP ENVIRONMENT CORRESPONDENTNovember 13, 2009 AUSTRALIA and the world must make prevention of the rapid rate of species extinction a political priority or face an environmental catastrophe, the head of an international biodiversity convention has warned. In an interview with the Herald, the executive secretary of the United Nations Convention on Biological […]
A total fire ban has been declared for regions of NSW expected to swelter with 40 degree celsius heat on Thursday. The southeast of the state is prohibited from lighting, maintaining or using open fires on Thursday, following the ban from the NSW Rural Fire Service. Temperatures are expected to soar between the mid-30s to […]
By FRAN RIMRODNovember 11, 2009 – 10:40AM There are fears the oil that spewed from a leaking well off the West Australian coast has polluted a stretch of the Indonesian coastline, jeopardising the local fishing industry. The Greens are calling on operator PTTEP Australasia to compensate West Timorese fishing communities in West Timor if reports […]
Darwin has just experienced its warmest month on record, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. Darwin has recorded the hottest ever month of daytime temperatures at the official observing site at Darwin Airport. Darwin Airport has been recording weather observations since 1941. “The average maximum temperature in October was 34.8°C” , Darwin climatologist Dr Shaik […]
By Phil MercerBBC News, Sydney New figures have revealed that sea levels along the coast of Western Australia are rising at a rate double that of the world average. Statistics from Australia’s National Tidal Centre show levels have increased by 8.6mm a year off the coast of the state capital Perth. That compares to a […]
Researchers Deborah Tabart and Hugh Possingham on the demise of koalas Australia’s koalas could be wiped out within 30 years unless urgent action is taken to halt a decline in population, according to researchers. They say development, climate change and bushfires have all combined to send the numbers of wild koalas plummeting. The Australian […]
By JASON DOWLINGNovember 9, 2009 POWER blackouts could hit Melbourne again this summer if there is a repeat of January and February’s extreme weather conditions, electricity suppliers have warned. A spokesman for Australia’s national power industry body, Australian Energy Market Operator, said Victoria had enough power to cope with average summer temperatures, but would struggle […]
By BRIDIE SMITHNovember 9, 2009 MELBOURNE’S water storage is set to fall for the first time in four months this week, as a record string of hot November days coincides with reduced run-off and a lack of spring rain. While catchments were still benefiting from last month’s falls, water flowing into reservoirs has gradually decreased. […]
