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Is Global Warming becoming unstoppable?

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If the dams reached 100% full with a desal plant running then someone has made a monumental blunder in system operation since that situation should never arise unless due to a major flood event.

Appropriate storage levels will vary between systems, catchments, individual storages, season, maintenance works and so on. There is, of course, nothing wrong with having storages full per se. But if it was achieved by means of running desal (or in the case of power generation by means of running alternative generation) then that's an undeniable operational blunder.

Dam storage levels are a valid measure of rainfall only where:

1. There is little or no alternative to using water in the dams AND
2. System capability is matched to average demand (for either water or energy as appropriate).

Examples that qualify would be pre-desal water storages for Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and pre-Basslink hydro-electric storages in Tasmania. Most other major storages in Australia are either actively managed to specific targets via the use of alternatives, or are seriously mismatched with underlying demand (ie they will trend to either empty or full with average rainfall).
 
Perth has more reliance on ground water than dams, the topography doesn't lend itself to dams. With a narrow coastal plain and a relatively small escarpment the opportunity to dam is limited.
Fortunately there is a large aquifer that supplies the majority of Perths water. Desalination is the only viable source of renewable water untill low cost pumping can bring water from northern areas.
 

Maybe if you lived in New York you saw the latest analysis of what they are facing with continued cliamte change you might re assess the situation. (Perhaps a similar analaysis for other major cities near the sea would also focus the mind)


From Shore to Forest, Projecting Effects of Climate Change
Click to expand...
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/17/n...t-new-york-state-in-many-ways-study-says.html
 


And the relationship of CO2 to Temperatures and sea level rises (in fact a de-accelerating rise) is what exactly?

You should continue your posts in the other thread on climate hysterics - since there is a better alignment of the title and your posts, in addition to the several unanswered questions you have yet to honestly answer.
 


There is obviously a lack of belief in global warming, by most governments. I don't see a reduction in waterfront developments in any area I have visited.
If the governments believed in the sea level rise scenario they would not be promoting water front developments.
Also steps would be taken to relocate critical infrastructure or at least not add to it and I don't see that happening either.
 
wayneL said:
Yep. When I first moved to Perth the population was about 600,000... now about 1.4 or thereabouts?

Same dams as then.
Click to expand...


Sigh......remember this
 

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wayneL said:
Yes.

But can you provide a rainfall history chart over the same period?

Dam inflows are affected by others things in addition to rain
Click to expand...
I can only steal someone's thunder.

Something though has been stealing our rain.
 
Meanwhile, oil prices have zoomed past $100 per barrel amidst economic doom and gloom that in past times would have seen the price crash.

Worry about CO2 all you like, but the real problem is finding enough fuel to burn in the first place.
 
Here's the only historical chart I can find - goes up to 2005

 
Below is another for the southwest of WA as a whole.

It only goes back to 1900.
 

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drsmith said:
Below is another for the southwest of WA as a whole.

It only goes back to 1900.
Click to expand...
if really interested in models and scenario which is not the case by many on the thread, south western australia is one of the only part of country which may benefit from global warming with higher rainfall and not too critical swings
[From memory in the rainmaker and other models I saw in the last few years;]
no such luck in the east where we will end up drier (with wider swings)
And no, I do not believe the carbon tax as is, is the solution
Not that this will prevent a reply implying I am selling babies blood and the australian soul as I believe global warming is man made and actually happening..
Why do I even bother...
 
sptrawler said:
There is obviously a lack of belief in global warming, by most governments. I don't see a reduction in waterfront developments in any area I have visited.
Click to expand...

As far as i know water front development has been banned in NSW for at least 10 years...and don't confuse a lack of political will with belief, most government are not keen on pushing GW action due to many factors, with lack of political will/courage etc at the top of the list.
 
We have had a top of 29C today in Townsville and looking at a low tonight of 23C, much as has been recorded for this time of year since settlement.

gg
 
Total rainfall is one thing, but it's the manner in which it falls which determines run-off (along with other things like evaporation, land use etc).

If there was a change in land use or a change in the pattern of rainfall then it's quite possible to have a large change in storage inflows even with zero change in the underlying rainfall totals.

If you've got a decent sized storage to fill then what you want are some high rainfall events which are far more helpful than the same volume falling evenly over an extended period (due to evaporation losses).
 
Well those graphs of WA are showing lower rainfall over time and lets face it the global warming effect is only a fraction of where it may get to in 30 years.

I have worked on a few projects where the council with State government money has built new pedestrian/bike paths with higher sea walls to counteract the future rising tide than what was existing.

One example is the St Kilda foreshore. If you live near there then look how high the new path is above the sand.
 
Can the fall in rainfall be scientifically links to emissions?

Is there any evidence of long tern rainfall averages (over centuries)?

We all know climate can change due to natural and other anthropogenic factors (land use etc), but where is the evidence this is exclusively due to GHGs.
 
true and we need to be ready with mitigation strategy: more storm, higher average temperature and so evaporations: need more dams
Look at the situation here in Brisbane where dams are design for both mitigation AND drinking water storage
DUHHH as Homer Simpson would say; it is not compatible: a mitigation dam should be empty by the start of the rainy season...
Time to use some brain in infrastructure design
 
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