Another Warming Theory Turns To Water

A couple of years ago, when the drought was at its peak it was supposedly worse because of global warming. The higher temperatures reduced rainfall and increased evaporation. Now it's flood time and, of course, the infinitely versatile climate theory again "explains" it. The higher temperatures are now increasing the amount of evaporation, leading to more water vapour in the air so increased rainfall- hence the floods.

Well, both claims are wrong. Certainly during the drought the cause and effect were exactly reversed. There was less water on the ground and in the soil, leading to higher temperatures because there was no water to absorb the heat by evaporation.

But don't take my word for it.

Michael Knox, chief economist at RBS Morgans, runs a calm eye over superheated claims:

O

n January 16, Senator Bob Brown, the leader of the Greens, was quoted as saying Queensland’s coal-mining industry should foot the bill for the Queensland floods because it helped cause them.
His argument was that higher temperatures are causing higher evaporation, which is “causing the moisture in the air, which is leading to these catastrophic floods” …

So is it true that the more recent period associated with higher levels of coal mining in Queensland is seeing higher levels of evaporation, rainfall and floods?

In a word: no.

BOM rainfall tables indicate that, instead of a rising trend, there seems to be no trend at all, certainly no upward trend, in Queensland’s rainfall.

As for the published data for evaporation in Queensland, it is pretty clear the 10-year moving average of evaporation in Queensland is dead flat. Indeed, the lowest level of evaporation in the entire period seems to be in 2010, the final year. So, clearly, evaporation is not increasing with the temperature and the simple boiling-pot theory of Queensland climate does not seem to work in practice …

The data shows the highest levels of flood in Brisbane were in the 19th century, when there was negligible economic development. The 21st century, when we have a higher level of economic development and coal mining, has seen a lower flood level.

As Tim Blair notes, we may be waiting for some time until Brown and his people of hench respond. They’ve been unusually quiet lately.

Article: