Climate change series: Recent and predicted climate change in the Southern Hemisphere

Date: Thursday 7 May 2009
Time: 7:00 p.m. Location: To be confirmed upon enrolment
Contact: For further information regarding this event, please contact Anne Welford by sending email to anne.welford@canterbury.ac.nz or by calling 364 2987 x4860
Audience: The general public

This lecture is part of a series of lectures being offered over Term 2 and 3 by Community Education called "The Climate Change Series: Science Solutions and Consequences". The topics covered in this lecture series are wide ranging and take an interdisciplinary approach to issues about Climate Change.

The first part includes seven illustrated lectures on the key issues associated with the climate change debate including evidence for and against man-made climate change as presented by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 4th assessment report.

Lecture 2: RECENT AND PREDICTED CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE – Presented by Adrian McDonald

This presentation will discuss the current observational evidence for climate change in the Southern Hemisphere and also focus on predictions of future change. The role of natural modes of variability in the atmosphere and their importance in the Southern Hemisphere will also be discussed.

Adrian McDonald (Physics and Astronomy) – Adrian completed his PhD at the University of Wales in 1996. Since coming to Canterbury in November 2001 his research in atmospheric physics has focused on gaining new knowledge about atmospheric processes that significantly impact the ability of climate models to produce accurate predictions. Adrian’s group use a range of observational techniques to study the atmosphere these include satellite measurements and radar observations made with the Scott Base MF radar. Adrian’s group also runs a climate model on the University of Canterbury Super Computer.

Enrolment in this lecture is free for UC staff and students, and $15.00 for the general public. Please call 364 2987 ext 4860 to enrol.