Extreme Weather Events

Talk Description

In 2025, extreme weather events included European heatwaves, Pakistan and Queensland floods and South Australian drought. This session will use South Australia as a test bed, describing the drought of August 2023 - August 2025, the driest two years recorded, contrasted with the Queensland and New South Wales floods. Aligned with the drought is the increase in the frequency in extreme temperatures, worsening the problems for agriculture and energy use. At the same time, a winter marine heatwave produced an algal bloom on much of South Australia’s vast coastline, killing a massive number of marine creatures.

Bio

John Boland is Emeritus Professor of Environmental Mathematics and Deputy Director of the Industrial AI Research Centre at Adelaide University. His research covers water resource management, renewable energy utilisation, energy efficient house design and environmental accounting. He is an independent expert member of the Campbelltown Council’s Climate Change Advisory Committee.