Experts comment on Australia’s hottest year

The following University of Queensland experts will be available today for media comment on the Bureau of Meteorology’s data showing 2005 was the hottest year on record:

• Professor Shu Fukai of the UQ School of Land and Food Sciences.

Professor Fukai can comment on climate change in relation to changes in crop growth.

Contact: 07 3365 2340 (A home number is also available upon request from the Office of Marketing and Communications*.)

• Dr Hamish McGowan, UQ climatologist, can comment on how the 2005 record confirms a trend of rising temperatures.

This trend has been sustained over the past 15-20 years and is likely to continue.

Other aspects of climate on which Dr McGowan can comment include: the role of humanity in climate change; the enhanced greenhouse effect; and the significance of the current trend in terms of the geological record.

Contact: 07 3365 6651

• Professor John Quiggin, of the School of Economics and School of Political Science and International Studies, can comment on the economic implications of climate change.

Contact: 07 3346 9646 (office) 3371 3996 (home)

• Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, of the Centre for Marine Studies, can comment on climate change and coral bleaching.

Contact: 07 4978 1399 (ext 229)

*UQ Office of Marketing and Communications: Fiona Kennedy - 3365 1088/ 0413 380 012 or Chris Saxby - 3365 2479