4
BAMOS
Sep 2018
President’s report
Andrew Marshall, September 2018
In the June issue of BAMOS I promised I would elaborate on
some recent extreme weather and climate events for this
issue, including the heavy rainfall and floods that affected
Kenya in early March (which occurred following the passage
of the Madden-Julian Oscillation over equatorial Africa). I also
planned to discuss drivers of the Tasman Sea marine heatwave
that extended from New Zealand to southeast Australia in
late 2017 and early 2018 (influenced by the combination of
persistent high pressure over the Tasman, La Niña in the tropics,
and a positive Southern Annular Mode at high latitudes, all set
against the backdrop of our changing climate). I did not know,
however, the degree to which weather and climate extremes
would dominate global headlines throughout the June–August
period that followed.
By mid-July, much of the Northern Hemisphere was sweltering
under extreme heat conditions, with record-warm heatwaves
reported across parts of North America, Europe and Asia. Roads
were damaged, crops were destroyed, and major wildfires
burned in northern England, Greece, Portugal, Sweden, Russia
and Alaska. The heatwaves lasted well into August while the
jet stream lingered unusually far to the north, allowing near-
stationary (blocking) high pressure systems to persist through
the height of summer.
Meanwhile, our farming communities across southern Australia
battled under the grip of a severe winter drought, after a very
warm and dry year so far. This allowed extreme fire weather
conditions to develop across much of eastern Australia earlier
than normal. With the Bureau of Meteorology’s climate outlook
for spring suggesting the continuation of warmer and drier
than average conditions across parts of mainland Australia, we
must be prepared for a high chance of continued drought and
fire danger over the coming months.
We have also seen a recent period of extremes for the Australian
marine environment with Melbourne experiencing extreme
sea levels on July 7, and Brisbane on July 12, following the
generation of coastally-trapped Kelvin waves in Bass Strait. Both
cities experienced coastal flooding as these waves propagated
northward along the Australian east coast in combination with
some of the highest tides of the year.
Amidst the adversity of these extreme events, the capacity of
communities and individuals to help one another has again
shone through—providing aerial assistance for firefighting
efforts in Sweden, hay trucks for drought-stricken farmers
across eastern Australia, and humanitarian support for
flood-effected families in Kenya. Through our membership
with the International Forum of Meteorological Societies
(IFMS; ifms.org), AMOS is supporting the vision of the World
Meteorological Organization (WMO) that all nations, especially
the most vulnerable, are more resilient to the socioeconomic
consequences of extreme weather, climate, water and other
environmental events such as these.
To that end, I am delighted to announce that AMOS member
Dr Michael Coughlan was last month voted into the prestigious
position of representing WMO Region V (Southwest Pacific)
on the Council of the IFMS. Dr Coughlan is ideally placed
for this role, having worked in a senior position within the
WMO Secretariat for several years, and more recently having
participated in numerous projects directed at the development
of meteorological services throughout the South Pacific. His
extensive experience aligns with the fundamental goal of
the IFMS: to foster co-operation and collaboration between
the world’s professional meteorological societies, towards
creating a ‘Weather Ready Globe’. I congratulate Dr Coughlan
on his election onto the IFMS Council, and I thank AMOS past
president Dr Todd Lane for his valuable work in the role over the
last few years.
As you read on though this season’s issue of BAMOS, look out
for reports on National Science Week activities from the regions
and the latest exciting news from the Monash Climate Change
Communication Research Hub. Remember also to submit your
abstracts to AMOS-ICTMO2019 by November 18 at amos2019.
org.au…and while you’re online, check out our new and
improved AMOS website at amos.org.au!