Climate change - global temperature rises since 1860

Temperatures since 1860 have increased in heat with considerable movement upward from 1940 onwards with this trend line projected to continue for the next two to three decades unless action is taken to reduce Greenhouse gas emissions.

Australia since 1970 - less water and increasing droughts

Time-based data evaluation and mapping by the Bureau of Meteorology starkly demonstrates the historical pattern of less rainfall over the Eastern half of the Australian continent which has occurred over the past 40 years. The Eastern half of the continent, comprising the states of  Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, produces most of the agricultural outputs whereas the Western half of the continent is semi-arid, arid to desert and cannot support food production. The impact of less rainfall will be continue to be an acute problem and one which requires faster adaptation than is currently the case. 

Australia's temperature increase since 1910

Australian Bureau of Meteorology

As the bush fires have caused an indelible impact on Australia during 2019 and 2020, the actual temperature data for the continent demonstrates the  extent of the increase of temperature particularly over the past forty years. This situation matched with lower rainfall, provides the perfect vector for widespread fires on the landscape.

NSW Rural Fire Service - prediction map for 4 January 2020

The NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) map portrays the manner in which bush fires can spread and the scale of movement given specific climatic conditions, in this case extreme temperature and wind condition.