Projecting future temperature-related mortality in three largest Australian cities

Yuming Guo, Shanshan Li, Li-yu Daisy Liu, Dong Chen, Gail Williams, Shilu Tong

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

63 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We estimated net annual temperature-related mortality in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne in Australia using 62 global climate model projections under three IPPC SRES CO2 emission scenarios (A2, A1B and B1). In all cities, all scenarios resulted in increases in summer temperature-related deaths for future decades, and decreases in winter temperature-related deaths. However, Brisbane and Sydney will increase the net annual temperature-related deaths in the future, while a slight decrease will happen in Melbourne. Additionally, temperature-related mortality will largely increase beyond the summer (including January, February, March, November and December) in Brisbane and Sydney, while temperature-related mortality will largely decrease beyond the winter in Melbourne. In conclusion, temperature increases for Australia are expected to result in a decreased burden of cold-related mortality and an increased burden of heat-related mortality, but the balance of these differences varied by city. In particular, the seasonal patterns in temperature-related deaths will be shifted.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)66-73
Number of pages8
JournalEnvironmental Pollution
Volume208
Issue numberPart A
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2016
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Climate change
  • Mortality
  • Projection
  • Temperature

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