From Cosmos (8/9/2023) – more bad news on the climate…
Drought confronts parts of Australia, ecologists are back on alert
Severe dry spells across parts of Australia have ecologists on both sides of the continent wary of the possible effects of warming climate conditions in the lead-up to summer.
While neither an El Niño nor a positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) have been declared, the Bureau of Meteorology expects both will be confirmed towards the end of the year.
Regardless, it’s repeatedly warned Australians to expect hotter and drier spring conditions.
In its latest drought report, the BOM declared August to be the 10th driest since records began in 1900, with most of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia experiencing below-average rainfall.