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The Conversation
The Conversation
Milton Speer, Visiting Fellow, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney

‘Unprecedented’ climate extremes are everywhere. Our baselines for what’s normal will need to change

Thomas Rosenzweig/Shutterstock

Extreme 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 definitions have become less appropriate – we need to look at events over shorter time periods to gain a more accurate picture.

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