The Next Glacial Period: Abrupt Climate Change and Australia

There is a distinct possibility that the next glacial period could be brought on by abruptnclimate change. This report was constructed to better understand abrupt climate changenand its effect on Australia.n n Abrupt climate change was defined as a rapid and unexpected shift in the climaticnconditions that causes human and natural systems difficulty in adapting to it. Previousnoccurrences of abrupt climate change include the Younger Dryas and the 8k Event.nRecords show that both these events constituted a sudden transfer from one climaticnstate to another in a matter of years, not millennia as for conventional climate change.n n Little is still known concerning the causes of abrupt climate change but evidencensuggested that large increases in the amount of freshwater added to the northernnAtlantic Ocean can prevent the circulation of heat from the equators to the poles. It wasnalso suggested that global warming could cause the next abrupt climate change as thenmelting Arctic ice shelfs may flood the Atlantic with enough fresh water to shut down thenocean circulation.n n Australiars varying climate was reviewed and predictions were made describing the likelynclimatic conditions at the onset of abrupt cooling. It is expected the average temperaturenin Australia will drop four to ten degrees below present values and that precipitation willnbe half that it is today. Glaciers are likely to form on the Snowy Mountains andnTasmanian plateau and, depending on the fall in sea levels, Papua New Guinea andnTasmania may join the Australian mainland. n The decreased precipitation levels will require Australia to produce water from eitherndesalination or water recycling methods. Desalination is the process of removing saltnfrom saline waters such as sea water and can require between 1 n 25 kWh/kL dependingnon the water and process being used. Water recycling reclaims purified water fromnsewage or wastewater through the use of many different processes. The energy requirednto treat the feedwater is dependent on the level of sanitation required; potable drinkingnwater will usually need 0.8 kWh/kL.n n It was found the drought conditions would also initiate the need for irrigation ofnagricultural lands; an extra 130 000 GL of water each year. It was calculated thatnapproximately 40 large nuclear reactors would be necessary to provide enough energynfor the required water production. However, Australian resources of uranium would onlynlast 80 years. Further studies into renewable energy should be conducted to ensurenAustraliars survival in glacial times.n n Canada, northern USA, Russia and Northern Europe are likely to be enveloped bynglaciers, covering the land in ice hundreds of metres thick and immigration from thenfrozen Northern Hemisphere would increasingly strain Australiars failing resources. It isnlikely immigration and population control measures would need to be implemented fornthe next glacial period.n n There are many aspects of abrupt climate change that require further investigationnbefore precise predictions can be made about the future. At present, an abrupt climatenchange would be catastrophic to modern civilisation and it is recommended that studiesnbe undertaken to ensure humanityrs continued existence through the next glacial period.n

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