NIWA expert to talk about 2004’s seasons of extremes

19 August 2004

NIWA national climate scientist Dr Jim Sallinger, is visiting Christchurch to speak on “The Future With Climate Extremes”  after 2004 seasonal extremes.

High temperatures accompanied by high winds produced life-threatening forest fires in Christchurch in early January, giving way to record rainfall in other areas, causing flooding by the end of February, and then snowy conditions causing  avalanches in August.

Dr Salinger is giving a free talk from 3pm to 4.30pm on Tuesday 31 August at Our City O-Tahutahi – the old Municipal Chambers at the corner of Oxford Terrace and Worcester Street.

This will be Dr Salinger’s third visit to Christchurch to present the NIWA seasonal climate outlooks and likely issues that affect decisions made every day by local government, industry, farmers, transport and tourism, and many other sectors. 

Dr Salinger says El Nino may be on the books for later this year leaving Canterbury open to the vagaries and extremes that such an atmospheric stew is likely to produce.

He aims to explain the weird weather patterns of 2004 to date that produced droughts then floods and the climatic factors in store for the months ahead. Dr Salinger will also speak about the likely impacts of such climate and possible ways to manage these.

To book a place at this talk, contact Marilyn Reddington, phone 941 8964 or email marilyn.reddington@ccc.govt.nz

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