Study points to rise in Singapore temperature, sea levels

Straits Times 9 Mar 10;

SINGAPORE will become hotter, sea levels could rise by more than half a metre, and there could be more extreme weather events such as floods over the next century, a study on the long-term effects of climate change here has revealed.

The three-year study, which was conducted by researchers from the Tropical Marine Science Institute at the National University of Singapore (NUS), measured three variables linked to the effects of global warming - temperature, rising sea levels and rainfall patterns.

Global warming is the term coined for the gradual increase in global temperature linked to the increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that is a result of man-made industrial activity.

The study showed that the average daily temperature here could increase by between 2.7 and 4.4 deg C from the present average of 26.8 deg C by 2100. In the same time-frame, sea levels could rise by between 24 and 65 cm.

On the third factor, it pointed to no discernible trend in rainfall patterns over the next century.

The findings of the study, which was peer reviewed by a team of international experts, were revealed in Parliament yesterday by Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Yaacob Ibrahim.

He was responding to MP Ang Mong Seng (Hong Kah GRC), who had asked about how Singapore - which as a low-lying island is vulnerable to the threat of flooding and coastal inundation - was going to cope with climate change.

Dr Yaacob said many of the adaptation measures to cope with the anticipated effects based on the study were already in place. These include, for example, a requirement since the early 90s for reclaimed land to be built at a height of 125cm above the highest measured tidal level, as a buffer against rising sea levels.

To cope with floods, the minister said Singapore would expand its network of water sensors and redesign drainage systems to cope with freak weather events.

Dr Yaacob also said that the study was not the last word on the climate change debate, which was complex and constantly evolving. 'We will improve our understanding as more information and data become available and climate change models become more robust,' he said.

One area of uncertainty is the threat posed by melting ice sheets from the Himalayan mountains and Greenland, with scientists around the world in dispute as to the exact extent to which it will contribute to rising sea levels globally.

Several MPs asked for an update on Singapore's position on the Copenhagen agreement, in the wake of the failure to craft a legally binding successor to the Kyoto Protocol that expires in 2012.

Ms Ellen Lee MP (Sembawang GRC) called it an 'end product of a high-powered and internationally charged event, that ended up as a mere report which was promulgated as a compromise by a small number of countries behind closed doors.'

Ms Fatimah Lateef MP (Marine Parade GRC) asked if Singapore's stated commitment to reduce emissions by 16 per cent in 10 years' time would stretch resources to the limit.

Dr Yaacob said Singapore would support the accord as a 'good basis' to negotiate a binding agreement in the next climate change conference in Mexico later this year. He added that while developed countries should lead the agenda by pledging emission cuts, developing countries also had a role to play.

While specific targets were still being worked on, the minister assured the House that measures would be phased in gradually.

'The government will help to cushion the impact and lighten the burden on households and businesses.'

AMRESH GUNASINGHAM


Daily Temperature In Singapore Could Rise By Four Degrees Celcius By 2100
Bernama 9 Mar 10;

SINGAPORE, March 9 (Bernama) -- Last month, Singapore experienced the driest month in 140 years, and a new climate study projects that the city state's average daily temperature could jump by more than four degrees Celsius by 2100.

Citing to Channel NewsAsia reports on Monday night, China's Xinhua news agency reported that the new climate study, which was commissioned by Singapore's National Environment Agency (NEA), projects that the temperature in the country could rise by between 2.7 to 4.2 degrees Celsius from the current average of 26.8 degrees Celsius.

And the sea level around the city state could increase by 24 to 65 centimeters by 2100.

Singapore's Minister for Environment and Water Resources Yaacob Ibrahim said in the Parliament that the findings, which are within the range of his ministry's expectations, are also consistent with global projections by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Singapore also has some measures in place to deal with the potential impacts of climate change, he said, adding that the NEA has also embarked on a second study to investigate in detail the impacts of climate change on public health, urban temperature and biodiversity.

February this year was the driest month in 140 years for Singapore, which had a rainfall of 6.3 millimeters in the month.

The NEA said that this February saw the hottest day so far this year when the mercury hit 35 degrees Celsius on Feb. 26.

Climate researcher in the country said that the city state may face dry and warm conditions for the next few months as the El Nino effect is expected to last till May this year.

-- BERNAMA