Our climate is determined by patterns of temperature, wind, atmospheric pressure,

humidity and rain over a long period of time. There are different climates around
the world, such as tropical, dry and moderate. As a large country, Australia has a
variety of climates.
The climate of an area determines its seasons and when they come and go. This,
in turn, affects the type of plants that grow and which animals survive. The species
and places we love depend on intricate ecosystems, and even small changes to
the climate can disrupt the delicate balance of nature.
As humans, every aspect of our life is reliant on the natural environment. This
includes the food we eat, the air we breathe, the water we drink, the clothes we
wear and the products that are made and sold to create jobs and drive the
economy.
A healthy and stable climate is our most precious natural resource.
What changes to the climate are humans causing through global
warming?
Global warming, caused by greenhouse gas pollution, is causing immediate and
direct changes to the planet.
The Earth's temperature had already warmed by 1°C compared to pre-industrial
levels. This temperature rise may appear small, but small rises in temperature
translate into big changes for the world’s climate. This is because the amount of
extra energy needed to increase the world’s temperature, even by a little, is vast.
This extra energy is like force-feeding the global climate system.
Hotter days:
2015 was the hottest year on record, the previous record was broken in 2014, and
2016 is expected to set a new record for the third year in a row. In the past few
years records have being broken for longest heatwaves and the Bureau of
Meteorology has added purple and magenta to the forecast map for temperatures
up to 54°C.
• Rising sea levels:
Increased ocean temperatures are melting glaciers and ice caps all over the world.
Melted ice increases the volume of water in our oceans. Warmer temperatures also
result in the expansion of the water's mass, which causes sea levels to rise,
threatening low-lying islands and coastal cities.
• More frequent and intense extreme weather events:
Extreme weather events like bushfires, cyclones, droughts and floods are
becoming more frequent and more intense as a result of global warming.
• Oceans are warming and acidifying:
The oceans have absorbed most of extra heat and carbon dioxide (CO 2) so far –
more than the air – making the seas both warmer and more acidic. Warming
waters are bleaching coral reefs and driving stronger storms. Rising ocean acidity
threatens shellfish, including the tiny crustaceans without which marine food chains
would collapse.