Scientists From Across Australia Meet To Discuss Links Between Climate & Bushfires

[hatrack]

Climate experts are meeting in Canberra to discuss the impact of climate change on health and natural disasters. Scientists from across the country are taking part in the annual conference of the Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society at the Australian National University.

Clem Davis from the ANU says the relationship between bushfires and climate change is coming under increasing scientific scrutiny. "That is one of the big concerns, that if we are getting global warming and we are getting hotter temperatures and drier conditions during summer, bushfires will become more intense," he said. "They'll have greater impact and of course that's got to impact on plants and animals and the fact that they may not be able to recover from severe fires if the fires are happening more often."

Mr Davis says while climate change sceptics are in the minority in the scientific community, their views will also be examined at the conference.

"Most of the people that have been working in this area believe that the evidence is mounting that humans are having an impact," he said.

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http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/01/27/2802346.htm?section=australia