12 August 2004
NIWA expert to talk about 2004’s seasons of extremes
NIWA national climate scientist Dr Jim Sallinger, is visiting Christchurch to speak on “The Future With Climate
Extremes” after 2004 seasonal extremes.
High temperatures accompanied by high winds produced life-threatening forest fires in Christchurch in early January,
giving way to record rainfall in other areas, causing flooding by the end of February, and then snowy conditions causing
avalanches in August.
Dr Salinger is giving a free talk from 3pm to 4.30pm on Tuesday 31 August at Our City O-Tahutahi – the old Municipal
Chambers at the corner of Oxford Terrace and Worcester Street.
This will be Dr Salinger’s third visit to Christchurch to present the NIWA seasonal climate outlooks and likely issues
that affect decisions made every day by local government, industry, farmers, transport and tourism, and many other
sectors.
Dr Salinger says El Nino may be on the books for later this year leaving Canterbury open to the vagaries and extremes
that such an atmospheric stew is likely to produce.
He aims to explain the weird weather patterns of 2004 to date that produced droughts then floods and the climatic
factors in store for the months ahead. Dr Salinger will also speak about the likely impacts of such climate and possible
ways to manage these.
ENDS