BAMOS
Jun 2020
33
On December 31, 1897, the South Australian Register (image
below) wrote prophetically of future Australian summers:
"May Heaven preserve us from being here when the
“scorchers” try and add a few degrees to the total."
Previous Australian studies have identified an increase in
extreme heat and a corresponding decrease in cold events.
However, this is the longest analysis in Australia, and the first
to systematically combine instrumental and documentary
information.
A longer view
While Australia has a long history of hot and cold extremes, our
extended analysis shows that their frequency and intensity is
changing.
The quality of the very early part of the record is still uncertain,
so the information from the 1830s and 1840s must be treated
with caution. That said, there is excellent agreement with
newspaper and other historical records.
Our research suggests low‐elevation snow events around
Adelaide have become less common over the past 180 years.
This can be seen in both temperature observations and
independent newspaper accounts. For example, snowfall was
exceptionally high in the 1900s and 1910s—more than four
times more frequent than other decades.
Learning from the past
This study shows we can use historical weather records to get
a better picture of Australia’s long‐term weather and climate
history. By using different sources of information, we can piece
together the significant events in our climate history with
greater certainty.
Historical records tell us about more than just exciting day trips
of the past. They also hold the key to understanding impacts
of extreme events, such as heat‐related deaths or agricultural
damage, in the future.
A better understanding of these pre‐industrial extremes
will help emergency management services better adapt to
increased climate risk, as Australia continues to warm.
We also found heatwaves are becoming more frequent in
Adelaide. The decade 2010–19 has the highest count of
heatwaves of any decade in the record. Although recent
heatwaves are not significantly longer than those of the past,
our analysis showed heatwaves of up to ten days are possible.
Newspaper account of a deadly heatwave published in the South Australian Register on Friday 31 December 1897.
Source: National Library of Australia