Cranking up the Intensity: Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events
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Tropical Cyclones in the Great Barrier Reef Region
Tropical cyclones and climate change in the Great Barrier Reef region Tropical cyclones can devastate coastal and marine ecosystems in the Great Barrier Reef region. Reef image: Matt Curnock > The annual number of Tropical cyclones have the potential to generate extreme winds, tropical cyclones in the heavy rainfall and large waves that can devastate agriculture Great Barrier Reef region and marine infrastructure and ecosystems in the Great Barrier shows large year-to-year Reef (GBR) region. Powerful wind gusts, storm surges and variability, primarily due coastal flooding resulting from tropical cyclones can damage to the El Niño-Southern tourism infrastructure, such as damage to Hamilton Island Oscillation phenomenon. from cyclone Debbie in 2017, and the combination of wind, flooding and wave action can uproot mangroves. > There is no clear trend Wave action and flood plumes from Global temperatures continue in the annual number river runoff can devastate seagrass to increase in response to rising (e.g. central GBR, cyclone Yasi, concentrations of greenhouse gases of observed tropical 2011) and coral reef communities in the atmosphere. In response, the cyclones impacting (e.g. southern GBR, cyclone impacts associated with extreme the Great Barrier Reef Hamish, 2009 and northern GBR, weather hazards and disasters, since 1980. However, cyclone Nathan, 2015). Waves in including those caused by tropical particular can damage corals even cyclones in the GBR region, are during this time impacts when cyclones are several hundred likely to change. Understanding how from other stressors kilometers away from the reef. these changes to extreme weather hazards will manifest in the GBR have increased in Recovery of ecosystems from this region in the future is critical for damage can take years to decades, frequency and severity. -
Cyclone Factsheet UPDATE
TROPICAL CYCLONES AND CLIMATE CHANGE: FACTSHEET CLIMATECOUNCIL.ORG.AU TROPICAL CYCLONES AND CLIMATE CHANGE: FACT SHEET KEY POINTS • Climate change is increasing the destructive power of tropical cyclones. o All weather events today, including tropical cyclones, are occurring in an atmosphere that is warmer, wetter, and more energetic than in the past. o It is likely that maximum windspeeds and the amount of rainfall associated with tropical cyclones is increasing. o Climate change may also be affecting many other aspects of tropical cyclone formation and behaviour, including the speed at which they intensify, the speed at which a system moves (known as translation speed), and how much strength is retained after reaching land – all factors that can render them more dangerous. o In addition, rising sea levels mean that the storm surges that accompany tropical cyclones are even more damaging. • While climate change may mean fewer tropical cyclones overall, those that do form can become more intense and costly. In other words, we are likely to see more of the really strong and destructive tropical cyclones. • A La Niña event brings an elevated tropical cyclone risk for Australia, as there are typically more tropical cyclones in the Australian region than during El Niño years. BACKGROUND Tropical cyclones, known as hurricanes in the North Atlantic and Northeast Pacific, typhoons in the Northwest Pacific, and simply as tropical cyclones in the South Pacific and Indian Oceans, are among the most destructive of extreme weather events. Many Pacific Island Countries, including Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Tonga, lie within the South Pacific cyclone basin. -
1 World Health Organization Department of Communications Evidence Syntheses to Support the Guideline on Emergency Risk Communic
World Health Organization Department of Communications Evidence Syntheses to Support the Guideline on Emergency Risk Communication Q10: What are the best social media channels and practices to promote health protection measures and dispel rumours and misinformation during events and emergencies with public health implications? Final Report Submitted by Wayne State University, 42 W. Warren Ave., Detroit, Michigan 48202 United States of America Contact Persons: Pradeep Sopory, Associate Professor, Department of Communication (Email: [email protected]; Ph.: 313.577.3543) Lillian (Lee) Wilkins, Professor, Department of Communication (Email: [email protected]; 313.577.2959) Date: December 21, 2016 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents . 2 Project Team, Acknowledgments, Authors . 3 1.0 Introduction . 4 2.0 Existing Reviews . 7 3.0 Method . 12 4.0 Results . 23 5.0 Discussion . 48 6.0 Funding . 52 7.0 References . 53 8.0 Appendixes . 62 2 PROJECT TEAM, ACKNOWLEDGMENTS, AUTHORS Wayne State University The project team was Pradeep Sopory, Lillian (Lee) Wilkins, Ashleigh Day, Stine Eckert, Donyale Padgett, and Julie Novak. Research assistance provided by (in alphabetical order) Fatima Barakji, Kimberly Daniels, Beth Fowler, Javier Guzman Barcenas. Juan Liu, Anna Nagayko, and Jacob Nickell. Library assistance provided by Damecia Donahue. We acknowledge the assistance of staff (in alphabetical order) Mary Alleyne, Robin Collins, Victoria Dallas, Janine Dunlop, Andrea Hill, Charylce Jackson, and Angela Windfield. World Health Organization Methodology assistance provided by consultant Jane Noyes, library assistance provided by Tomas Allen, and general research assistance provided by Nyka Alexander. We acknowledge the assistance of staff Oliver Stucke. Project initiated and conceptualized by Gaya Gamhewage and Marsha Vanderford. -
The Bathurst Bay Hurricane: Media, Memory and Disaster
The Bathurst Bay Hurricane: Media, Memory and Disaster Ian Bruce Townsend Bachelor of Arts (Communications) A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at The University of Queensland in 2019 School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry Abstract In 1899, one of the most powerful cyclones recorded struck the eastern coast of Cape York, Queensland, resulting in 298 known deaths, most of whom were foreign workers of the Thursday Island pearling fleets. Today, Australia’s deadliest cyclone is barely remembered nationally, although there is increasing interest internationally in the cyclone’s world record storm surge by scientists studying past cyclones to assess the risks of future disasters, particularly from a changing climate. The 1899 pearling fleet disaster, attributed by Queensland Government meteorologist Clement Wragge to a cyclone he named Mahina, has not until now been the subject of scholarly historical inquiry. This thesis examines the evidence, as well as the factors that influenced how the cyclone and its disaster have been remembered, reported, and studied. Personal and public archives were searched for references to, and evidence for, the event. A methodology was developed to test the credibility of documents and the evidence they contained, including the data of interest to science. Theories of narrative and memory were applied to those documents to show how and why evidence changed over time. Finally, the best evidence was used to reconstruct aspects of the event, including the fate of several communities, the cyclone’s track, and the elements that contributed to the internationally significant storm tide. The thesis concludes that powerful cultural narratives were responsible for the nation forgetting a disaster in which 96 percent of the victims were considered not to be citizens of the anticipated White Australia. -
Download Field Report
Recovery of the Great Barrier Reef Dr David Bourne, James Cook University Hillary Smith, James Cook University May-September, 2018 PAGE 1 LETTER TO VOLUNTEERS Dear Earthwatch volunteers, Our team at James Cook University and Earthwatch Australia wish to thank you for the continued field support during our 12th and 13th field trip expeditions. Again with great weather conditions, this season has been especially successful in fulfilling our missions in the field. In February 2011, a severe tropical cyclone (Yasi) struck the coast of North Queensland and caused catastrophic damage to reefs in the study area around Orpheus Island located in the central sector of the Great Barrier Reef. In 2016 and 2017 the Great Barrier Reef was also hit by the largest bleaching events on recorded resulting in unprecedented coral mortality in some areas of the reef. Finally coral populations at the study sites have previously suffered from outbreaks of a coral disease, black- band disease (BBD). Our goals of the field work were; 1) monitor the recovery of coral populations extensively damaged following cyclone Yasi; 2) Assess the impacts of the bleaching events in 2017 and 2017 on these recovering populations; 3) study how coral disease outbreaks influence this reef recovery processes; 4) elucidate the microbial mechanisms of BBD; and 5) conduct pilot surveys of benthic cover for future algal removal research. We are grateful for the hard work of the Earthwatch volunteers during the field trips in 2018 and appreciated the fantastic sunny days that volunteers brought with them. Favourable conditions allowed us to efficiently collect coral data from all the study sites that we have been monitoring. -
Revised Proof
Housing Policy in Australia “Australia has avoided a recession in its economic system for nigh on 30 years. Good management our political leaders claim. But Australia’s housing system has failed throughout this time: homelessness has risen; insecure and unaffordable rental are common-place; the over-valuing of homeownership has escalated; and a massive shortage of social and affordable housing has been allowed to develop. How is such neglect or mismanagement of Australians’ housing dreams possible? This book explains why and what to do about it. Pawson, Milligan and Yates carefully document compelling evidence on these issues to provide a contemporary and robust analysis of the when, where, how and why of housing problems in Australia. Moreover, the authors provide the policy solutions and actions to be taken by Federal, State and local governments, as well as the development, fnance and property management industries. Pawson, Milligan and Yates are Australia’s foremostPROOF housing analysts. This book is essential reading for anyone with an interest or a care in reforming Australia’s housing system to be once again ft for all Australians.” —Ian Winter, Housing consultant, and Director, Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute 2000–17 “Housing policy and housing systems are rapidly changing and profoundly reshaping access to affordable and high quality housing across all Australia’s cities and regions. Housing Policy in Australia superbly harnesses international evidence and more than two decades of experience to not only analyse but also provide potential solutions to the current housing policy impasse. The book’s comprehen- sive canvassing of housing system diversity—tenures, social differentiation, histor- ical trends—will become necessary reading for housing practitioners and students. -
Fostering Employment for People with Intellectual Disability: the Evidence to Date
Fostering employment for people with intellectual disability: the evidence to date Erin Wilson and Robert Campain August 2020 This document has been prepared by the Centre for Social Impact Swinburne for Inclusion Australia as part of the ‘Employment First’ project, funded by the National Disability Insurance Agency. ‘ About this report This report presents a set of ‘evidence pieces’ commissioned by Inclusion Australia to inform the creation of a website developed by Inclusion Australia as part of the ‘Employment First’ (E1) project. Suggested citation Wilson, E. & Campain, R. (2020). Fostering employment for people with intellectual disability: the evidence to date, Hawthorn, Centre for Social Impact, Swinburne University of Technology. Research team The research project was undertaken by the Centre for Social Impact, Swinburne University of Technology, under the leadership of Professor Erin Wilson together with Dr Robert Campain. The research team would like to acknowledge the contributions of Ms Jenny Crosbie, Dr Joanne Qian, Ms Aurora Elmes, Dr Andrew Joyce and Mr James Kelly (of the Centre for Social Impact) and Dr Kevin Murfitt (Deakin University) who have collaborated in the sharing of information and analysis regarding a range of research related to the employment of people with a disability. Page 2 ‘ Contents Background 5 About the research design 6 Structure of this report 7 Synthesis: How can employment of people with intellectual disability be fostered? 8 Evidence piece 1: Factors positively influencing the employment of people -
Invasive Meningococcal Disease (IMD) an Update on Prevention in Australia Prof Robert Booy, NCIRS
Invasive Meningococcal Disease (IMD) An update on prevention in Australia Prof Robert Booy, NCIRS Declaration of interests: RB consults to vaccine companies but does not accept personal payment Invasive Meningococcal Disease Caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis1 • Meningococci are classified into serogroups that are determined by the components of the polysaccharide capsule1 • Globally, 6 serogroups most commonly cause disease2 A B C W X Y • In Australia, three serogroups cause the majority of IMD3 B W Y Cross-section of N. meningitidis bacterial cell wall (adapted from Rosenstein et al)4 1. Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI). The Australian Immunisation Handbook 10th Edition (2018 update) . Canberra: Australian Government Department of Health, 2018 [Accessed September 2018] 2. Meningococcal meningitis factsheet No 141. World Health Organization website. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs141/en/ [Accessed February 2017] 3. Lahra and Enriquez. Commun Dis Intell 2016; 40 (4):E503-E511 4. Rosenstein NE, et al. N Engl J Med. 2001; 344:1378-1388 Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) in Australia • Overall, the national incidence of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) in Australia is low • From 2003 to 2013, there was a large decrease in the number AUS notifications: 99% drop in Men C! - after the introduction of 2003 meningococcal C (Men C) dose at 12 months to National Immunisation Program (NIP) – catch-up vacc’n 2-19 year olds (herd immunity <1 & >20yrs) • & reduced smoking +improved SES: 55% drop in Men B! Without a vaccine program • However, in recent years the rate of IMD has increased: 2017 had the highest rate in 10 years • Men W and Y now important in older adults Notifications of invasive meningococcal disease, Australia, 1992- 2017, by year, all serogroups 2013-2017: 4 yrs 3rd Age peak 60-64 yrs W and Y 2017:2018: 383281 cases Highest2019: number? fewer of cases since 2006 Nat’l Men C program from 2003 Adapted from National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System1 1. -
The Tropic Islesbreezes
Published by On Trac Publishing, P.O. Box 985, Bradenton, FL 34206 (941) 723-5003 Tropic Isles • 1503 28th Ave. West • Palmetto, Florida 34221 • (941) 721-8888 • Website: www.TropicIsles.net Home of the Month Meet Your New Neighbors By Cindy Shaw The Tropic Isles I’d like to introduce you to our new, part-time neighbors, PAUL September and MIRIAM GROSSI. They live in their new home at 128 Capri Dr. Paul is originally from New York City, NY, but both he and Miriam now reside part-time in Millersburg, Ohio. Paul is a retired hospital administrator in Ohio and Okla- homa where he worked for 35 years. Miriam is a retired RN of 17 years and has foster parented newborns for many years. Paul and Miriam also ran a B & B in Millersburg for 13 years. They have been coming down to this area for 14 years and have been vacationing on Anna Maria Island. While on vacation, they 2017 would often ride out to Emerson Point. They would also do an exchange system with their B & B allowing interested people to September’s “Home of the Month” belongs to Tommy and stay in their B & B in exchange for staying in other peoples’ homes. Charlene Barlow at 1312 29th Ave. W. Lots of work and loving When they became interested in putting down roots, they touches, both inside and out, went into the creation of this cute began looking at vacant lots in the area where they could build little “tropical cottage”. Congratulations! a house. They went to Jacobson Homes who sent them to Tropic Isles. -
Stilt 63-64 – October 2013 Table of Contents
The JournalStilt for the East Asian-Australasian Flyway AWSG Number 63-64 • October 2013 Australasian Wader Studies Group STATE CONSERVATION OFFICERS QUEENSLAND Joyce Harding, PO Box 1530, Cleveland Qld 4163. Email: [email protected] Sandra Harding, 336 Prout Road, Burbank QLD 4156 Email: [email protected] NEW SOUTH WALES Joan Dawes Ph: 02 9664 2546 Email: [email protected] TASMANIA Stilt Eric Woehler (South Tas), 37 Parliament St, Sandy Bay Tas ISSN 0726-1888 7005. Ph: (03) 6223 1980 Email: [email protected] Ralph Cooper (North Tas) 7 Beach Rd, Legana Tas 7277. © AWSG Ph: (03) 6330 1255 Email: [email protected] MISSION STATEMENT To ensure the future of waders and their habitats in Australia SOUTH AUSTRALIA through research and conservation programmes, and to Paul Wainwright, PO Box 255, Balhannah SA 5242 encourage and assist similar programmes in the rest of the Ph: 0429 678 475 Email: [email protected] East Asian–Australasian Flyway. VICTORIA OBJECTIVES Doris Graham, 14 Falconer St, Fitzroy Vic 3068. • To monitor wader populations through a programme of Ph (03): 9482 2112 Email: [email protected] counting and banding in order to collect data on WESTERN AUSTRALIA changes on a local, national and international basis. Bill Rutherford (s. WA – cutoff Onslow), 199 Daglish St, • To study the migrations of waders through a Wembly, Perth 6014. Email: [email protected] programme of counting, banding, colour flagging and collection of biometric data. Chris Hassell (n. WA – cutoff Onslow), Global Flyway Network • To instigate and encourage other scientific studies of PO Box 3089, Broome, WA 6725. -
State of the Climate in 2016
STATE OF THE CLIMATE IN 2016 Special Supplement to the Bullei of the Aerica Meteorological Society Vol. 98, No. 8, August 2017 STATE OF THE CLIMATE IN 2016 Editors Jessica Blunden Derek S. Arndt Chapter Editors Howard J. Diamond Jeremy T. Mathis Ahira Sánchez-Lugo Robert J. H. Dunn Ademe Mekonnen Ted A. Scambos Nadine Gobron James A. Renwick Carl J. Schreck III Dale F. Hurst Jacqueline A. Richter-Menge Sharon Stammerjohn Gregory C. Johnson Kate M. Willett Technical Editor Mara Sprain AMERICAN METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY COVER CREDITS: FRONT/BACK: Courtesy of Reuters/Mike Hutchings Malawian subsistence farmer Rozaria Hamiton plants sweet potatoes near the capital Lilongwe, Malawi, 1 February 2016. Late rains in Malawi threaten the staple maize crop and have pushed prices to record highs. About 14 million people face hunger in Southern Africa because of a drought that has been exacerbated by an El Niño weather pattern, according to the United Nations World Food Programme. A supplement to this report is available online (10.1175/2017BAMSStateoftheClimate.2) How to cite this document: Citing the complete report: Blunden, J., and D. S. Arndt, Eds., 2017: State of the Climate in 2016. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 98 (8), Si–S277, doi:10.1175/2017BAMSStateoftheClimate.1. Citing a chapter (example): Diamond, H. J., and C. J. Schreck III, Eds., 2017: The Tropics [in “State of the Climate in 2016”]. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 98 (8), S93–S128, doi:10.1175/2017BAMSStateoftheClimate.1. Citing a section (example): Bell, G., M. L’Heureux, and M. S. Halpert, 2017: ENSO and the tropical Paciic [in “State of the Climate in 2016”]. -
2013 Annual Report on the Commercial Harvest of Kangaroos
2013 Annual Report on the Commercial Harvest of Kangaroos in Western Australia This report is provided to the Australian Government as requirement of the Management Plan for the Commercial Harvest of Kangaroos in Western Australia 20013–2014 under Aim 6, Action 17, Performance Indicator 30. March 2013 CONTENTS 1. HARVEST STATISTICS .................................................................................................... 1 2. INDUSTRY COMPLIANCE ................................................................................................ 2 3. UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES ......................................................................................... 3 4. RESEARCH ACTIVITY ...................................................................................................... 12 5. ASSESSMENT OF PLAN ACTIONS AGAINST PERFORMANCE INDICATORS ............. 13 2013 Harvest Report for Western Australia 1 1. HARVEST STATISTICS Table 1.1. Commercial harvest figures for red kangaroos for the 2013 calendar year. Population Number Sex ratio Average male Average female Monitoring Zone harvested (% male) carcass weight carcass weight (kg) (kg) Central 10,434 60.7 23.8 15.0 Northern 10,308 65.7 24.8 16.6 South East 16,120 58.0 24.3 15.3 South West 0 - - - Totals (WA) 36,862 60.9 24.3 15.5 State quota 77,200 Proportion state 47.7% quota harvested Table 1.2. Commercial harvest figures for western grey kangaroos for the 2013 calendar year. Population Number Sex ratio Average male Average female Monitoring Zone harvested (% male) carcass weight carcass weight (kg) (kg) Central 5,070 60.3 24.8 17.8 Northern 0 - - - South East 14,660 61.1 25.6 15.6 South West 61,357 60.4 29.4 17.5 Totals (WA) 81,087 60.5 28.4 17.2 State quota 106,000 Proportion state 76.5% quota harvested 2013 Harvest Report for Western Australia 2 2. INDUSTRY COMPLIANCE Table 2.1.