Weird and wonderful climate patterns explained

One of New Zealand’s leading climate change experts, Dr Jim Salinger, will be speaking in Auckland next week as part of Disaster Reduction Week.

Dr Salinger will talk about the weird and wonderful climate patterns that have dominated 2004 thus far: intense temperatures and high winds for Canterbury in January; flooding in the north and extremely dry conditions in the south during July and persistent cold southerly blasts in August.

Titled “The Future with Climate Extremes: The Past Season and the Months Ahead”, Dr Salinger’s presentation will also look at the weak El Nino that the Auckland region can expect in the coming months and what this means for the region’s already seemingly unpredictable weather patterns.

Hosted by the Public Education team of the Auckland Region Civil Defence Emergency Management Group, Dr Salinger’s visit to Auckland has been timed to coincide with Disaster Reduction Week (11-17 October), which has the theme “Learning from today’s disasters for tomorrow’s hazards”.

Dr Salinger will discuss the impacts that extreme weather patterns, such as those experienced in New Zealand in recent months, have and the ways in which we can manage them.

The presentation will be held on Wednesday 13 October (10am – 12 noon) at the Council Chamber, Auckland Regional Council, Vodafone House, 21 Pitt Street, Auckland City.

Numbers are limited, and all those interested in attending are asked to RSVP by Monday 11 October to Jane Olsen phone 09 366 2000 x 8449.

ends

For more information about the presentation please call

Jane Olsen, ARC Hazard Analyst, ph 366 2000 x8186

Dana Findlay, ARC Communications Adviser, 366 2000 x8186, or 021 676 308

Blair Harkness, North Shore City Communications, ph 486 8508 or 021 735 651

About Dr Salinger

Dr Salinger is a senior climate scientist for NIWA and has been involved for many years in researching and monitoring past and current climate trends. He is a National Climate Centre co-ordinator and regular prepares climate change updates, leads various projects on climate change and regularly speaks throughout New Zealand.

About Disaster Reduction Week

The annual Disaster Reduction Week (11-17 October) aims to build understanding and awareness of the need to be prepared in the event of an emergency.

The theme of this year’s World Disaster Reduction Campaign is “Learning from today's disasters for tomorrow's hazards”. Learning to live with the risks that hazards pose to communities is one of the key ways to protect people and property from the disastrous impacts of earthquakes, floods, hurricanes and volcanoes. Learning can take place through formal education such as in schools and universities, or informal groups and networks such as community meetings and advocacy activities.

More information is available online at www.civildefence.govt.nz.

About the CDEM Group

The Auckland Region Civil Defence Emergency Management Group was established in May 2003 and is made up of representatives of all councils in the Auckland region, the Auckland Regional Council, emergency services, the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management, district health boards, and the Auckland Engineering Lifelines Group.

The Group’s role is to provide a co-ordinated and integrated approach to the way significant risks and hazards are managed in the region.

More information is available online at http://www.auckland.cdemg.org.nz.

About the Public Education Team

The Public Education team comprises representatives from within the Civil Defence Emergency Management Group and is responsible for co-ordinating the development and implementation of a region-wide strategy to develop community resilience in the event of a civil defence emergency in New Zealand.

The Group’s focus is on the integrated planning and delivery of education across Civil Defence/Emergency Management agencies throughout the Auckland region.

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