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2024 braided rivers programme

Newsletter #89

Tēnā koutou,
 
It’s great to see so many familiar people are coming to the annual Braided Rivers seminar. There are still places, so check out the programme and booking page here. And yes, you really do need to book in advance!

As several people have suggested content for the seminar that fall outside BRaid’s primary objectives, it’s worth re-iterating those objectives:
 
1. Provide effective leadership and advocacy, and encourage co-operation between all parties whose interests and activities involve braided rivers
2. Promote research and management to reverse the decline of braided river ecosystems
3. Collect, store, and share data and information on braided rivers
 

Interests in braided rivers are often competing and conflicting, the second point is where we find common ground: ecosystem health. I mention this because one common ground is the unanticipated threats from rising temperatures. At the end of this newsletter are links to two research papers  that are worth reading. The first is the unexpected multiplier threat from ‘supercharged’ thunderstorms on floods. While the research is in Australia, the laws of physics don’t stop halfway across the ditch. The second is something I had never considered before: the effects of rising temperature of groundwater on ecosystem health. I’ve also included a link to the interactive map created by the researchers. If you’re morbidly curious, slide across to the Amazon and take a look there as well. And just as a reminder, the average global temperature June 2023 – May 2024 was 1.63°C above the 1850-1900 pre-Industrial average.

Looking forward to seeing you all at the seminar.
 

Ngā mihi,

Sonny Whitelaw
 

Bird Surveys: 

NZ Garden Bird Survey 29 June – 7 July

Reminder, the garden bird survey is coming up soon! See https://gardenbirdsurvey.nz/ for more info.
 
roosting shorebirds disturbed by walkers and dog
Image: nespthreatenedspecies.edu.au/news-and-media/latest-news/migratory-shorebirds-and-artificial-roosts

News

Research & Reports

“ In media articles about unprecedented flooding, you’ll often come across the statement that for every 1°C of warming, the atmosphere can hold about 7% more moisture. This figure comes from research undertaken by the French engineer Sadi Carnot and published 200 years ago this year.

“We now know there’s more to the story. Yes, a hotter atmosphere has the capacity to hold more moisture. But the condensation of water vapour to make rain droplets releases heat. This, in turn, can fuel stronger convection in thunderstorms, which can then dump substantially more rain.

“This means that the intensity of extreme rainfall could increase by much more than 7% per degree of warming. What we’re seeing is that thunderstorms can likely dump about double or triple that rate – around 14–21% more rain for each degree of warming.”

Groundwater temperatures
(Click the image to be taken to the interactive global Atlas; you will need to move across to Aotearoa as it open over the US.) “Shallow soil and groundwater warming may also cause temperatures in water distribution networks to cross critical thresholds, with potential health implications such as the growth of pathogens such as Legionella spp.” – Benz et al.
Monthly global surface air temperature anomalies (°C) relative to 1850–1900 from January 1940 to May 2024, plotted as time series for consecutive 12-month periods spanning June to May of the following year. The last 12 months (June 2023 – May 2024) are shown with a thick red line while all other years with thin lines shaded according to the decade, from blue (1940s) to brick red (2020s). Data source: ERA5. Credit: C3S/ECMWF.
“Average global temperature June 2023 – May 2024: 1.63°C above the 1850-1900 pre-industrial average. Monthly global surface air temperature anomalies (°C) relative to 1850–1900 from January 1940 to May 2024, plotted as time series for consecutive 12-month periods spanning June to May of the following year. The last 12 months (June 2023 – May 2024) are shown with a thick red line while all other years with thin lines shaded according to the decade, from blue (1940s) to brick red (2020s). Data source: ERA5. Credit: C3S/ECMWF.” NOTE: the 1.5°C ‘limit’ under the Paris Accord is based on averages exceeding 1.5°C for 20-30 years of past observations.

Donations

BRaid is an Incorporated Society (No: 2453663) with Charitable Status  (Registration Number CC50089). Membership is free but donations are much appreciated. Donations can be made to BRaid Inc. Account number: 01 0877 0818466 00. Please include your name in the reference line and ideally email us, so that we can thank you and send you a receipt. Donations are tax deductible citing our NZ Business Number 9429043210572.

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