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Dangerous climate change and water resources in Australia

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Abstract

Water resources in Australia are sensitive to changes in rainfall. Ongoing droughts in south-west and south-east Australia are stressing water resources in the major cities and in agricultural regions. Climate change scenarios for Australia include reasonable prospects of long-term drying, which would exacerbate these issues. The dryer scenarios would entail major readjustments and costs on natural and human systems.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Australian Research Council and the CSIRO Climate Adaptation Flagship.

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  1. CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, GPO Box 1538, Hobart, TAS, 7001, Australia

    James S. Risbey

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  1. James S. Risbey
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Correspondence to James S. Risbey.

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Risbey, J.S. Dangerous climate change and water resources in Australia. Reg Environ Change 11 (Suppl 1), 197–203 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-010-0176-7

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