Issues

The two main issues for Atmosphere in Tumut were:

• Air quality

• Climate

Background

Tumut Shire enjoys generally clean air, and a pleasant climate. The altitude of parts of the Shire, and its position inland, tend to keep temperatures down. Precipitation is closely related to topography, being greater on the windward side of mountain ranges and lower in the rain shadow on the lee slopes.

The lack of heavy industry or concentrations of vehicles ensures that pollutant loadings are relatively low and are usually dispersed. Inversions can occur in valleys on some clear winter nights, which can trap gaseous and fine particle pollutants, such as wood smoke from domestic fireplaces and stoves, close to ground level.

As with the rest of south-east Australia, Tumut Shire is affected by the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). ENSO is a natural phenomenon (although debate continues as to whether human interference in the climate system could increase its frequency of occurrence or severity). It is responsible for some—but by no means all—of the climatic variability in our Region. There is no doubt that 'droughts and flooding rains' are a feature of life in most parts of Australia, and that our own Region does not suffer as badly from these swings as other areas.

In addition, the Shire, along with the rest of the world, is inevitably subject to two global atmospheric phenomena that are human-induced: the decline in upper atmosphere (stratospheric) ozone, with its consequent increase in ultraviolet (UV) radiation reaching ground level; and the enhanced Greenhouse effect, with the likelihood of global warming and changes in established weather patterns.

As these are global in their causes and effects, individual jurisdictions cannot single-handedly solve them, but should nevertheless play their part in complying with any national and international agreements that attempt to do so.