Science Media Centre

New research indicates that the latest observations of the climate system’s response to rising greenhouse gas levels are consistent with conventional estimates despite a “warming pause” over the past decade. However, the most extreme rates of warming predicted by the current generation of climate models over 50- to 100-year timescales are looking less likely. The [...]

A group of international scientists, including New Zealanders, have for the first time reconstructed temperatures for seven continental-scale regions for the past 2,000 years. The detailed global climate record reveals that the period from the 1970s until 2000 was the warmest in 1,400 years. “The striking feature about the sudden rise in 20th Century global [...]

Climate change may have a silver lining for grape growers in New Zealand, according to a new global study. The research, published in PNAS this week, found that the area of land suitable for growing grapes would change substantially around the world under predicted climate shifts in the next four decades.  According to the authors, [...]

ONLINE MEDIA BRIEFING – FRI 22 MAR The ‘big dry’ continues, with the entire North Island officially declared a drought zone and ongoing water restrictions in many regions. How bad is this drought, and how long is it likely to last? What are the ongoing impacts on soil moisture and river flows, and how much [...]

In a NZ Herald two-page special report, Jamie Morten interviews three climate researchers from Victoria University Wellington about climate, change and the future. Prof David Frame, Prof James Renwick and Dr Simon Lamb share their insights in the feature, ‘Your future weather: A daunting forecast’ . An excerpt (read in full here): Professor David Frame [...]

Current drought conditions in the North Island have heated up discussion about the science of climate change and the future of New Zealand’s weather. Climate scientists have warned the we may see similar dry seasons in the future. Examples of media coverage from over the weekend: Sunday Star Times: North Island Drought The Most Severe [...]

In the New Zealand Herald, Economics Editor Brain Fallow takes a look at the government’s struggle with emissions reduction. An excerpt (read in full here): Govt in bind over emissions target Promising technology takes a blow, while primary policy intended to curb growth is in utter disarray. A big decision the Government has to make [...]

On the Australian science commentary site The Conversation, climatologists from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology spell out the situation for the Lucky Country. What’s causing Australia’s heat wave? By Neil Plummer, Australian Bureau of Meteorology; Blair Trewin, Australian Bureau of Meteorology; David Jones, Australian Bureau of Meteorology; Karl Braganza, Australian Bureau of Meteorology, and Rob [...]

The Australian Science Media Centre has collected extensive commentary from experts on a range of issues relating to the heatwave currently sweeping across the country. Feel free to use these quotes below in your reporting. If you would like to contact a New Zealand expert, please contact the SMC (04 499 5476; smc@sciencemediacentre.co.nz). Jump to [...]

The UK Government has given the go-ahead for hydraulic fracking activity in the country to tap valuable sources of shale gas. A drilling company Cuadrilla, was previously stopped from fracking after two small earthquakes occurred near Blackpool in the region of where fracking was happening. (See additional scientific commentary on thew Blackpool tremors). Conditions have been [...]