‘Unprecedented’ climate extremes are everywhere. Our baselines for what’s normal will need to change
- Written by Milton Speer, Visiting Fellow, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney
Thomas Rosenzweig/ShutterstockExtreme temperature and rainfall events are increasing around the world, including Australia. What makes them extreme is their rarity and severity compared to the typical climate.
A region’s “climate” is defined by a 30-year average of mainly rainfall and temperature. Increasingly, these climate...





