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Weather extremes a taste of the future: academic

A climate change academic is tipping the extreme weather conditions experienced in Tasmania last month to become more routine.

The record for Tasmania's hottest day was broken twice, with Flinders Island reaching 41 degrees on January 29th and Scamander 42 degrees the next day.

The record for Tasmania's coldest January day was also broken, with Mt Wellington only reaching two degrees on the 16th.

The University of Tasmania's Dr Kate Crowley says it is very concerning.

"Shifting weather patterns cause shifting eco-systems so I guess that means areas that are dry are becoming wet, areas that are wet are becoming dry, areas that are prone to bushfire are going to be prone to catastrophic bushfire," he said.

"So it really is of concern."Editor's note (February 24): This story originally referred to Dr Kate Crowley as a "climate change expert". Dr Crowley was interviewed in her role as the chairwoman of the Tasmanian Climate Change Action Council, however the ABC acknowledges her expertise is not in the meteorological or physical science aspects of climate issues.

- ABC

© ABC 2008

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