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BRIEFING: The year that was - Global and Australian climate in 2009
Release of the World Meteorological Organization Annual Climate Statement
NATIONAL MEDIA BRIEFING – Today (Wed 9 Dec) at 10.30am AEDT at the Bureau of
Meteorology, Level 6, 1010 Latrobe Street, Melbourne (Also available online)
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the official United Nations' voice on weather, climate and
water, has just released its annual statement on the global climate in 2009 direct from Copenhagen. In
Australia, 2009 brought heatwaves, fires, drought, storms, flooding, and for some states, record breaking
temperatures. It was a year of extremes. What will 2010 bring for Australia and the world and how will the
worst affected communities cope?
This briefing will cover the key global issues from the WMO release, with a particular focus on Australia’s
climate during 2009.
The briefing will discuss:
The year that was – How warm was 2009 globally and what were the most remarkable features for
the year?
What will the rest of summer and 2010 bring? What is our long term prognosis?
What changes are we seeing in the ocean and how fast is sea level rising?
The heatwaves of the last year have had a significant impact upon many in our community. What are
the links between climate and health, and what does the future hold?
SPEAKERS:
Dr David Jones, Head of Climate Analysis, National Climate Centre (Bureau of Meteorology)
Dr Kathy McInnes, Principal Research Scientist in the Climate Change Research Group, Centre
for Australian Weather and Climate Research
Professor Neville Nicholls, Monash University and Lead Author of the IPCC fourth assessment
report chapter on “Understanding and attributing climate change”
BRIEFING DETAILS:
DATE: Wednesday 9 December 2009
START TIME: 10.30am AEDT
DURATION: Approx 60 min
VENUE: Victorian Regional Office of the Bureau of Meteorology, Level 6, 1010 Latrobe Street, Docklands,
Melbourne
PHONE CONTACT ON THE DAY: AusSMC - Lyndal Byford (0449 122 100) or Bureau of Meteorology -
David Grant (0439 452 424)
To join the briefing online visit www.aussmc.org and follow the instructions on the briefing page.
NEWS 
