Australian Flood Could Be Sign of More Disasters

Scientists speculate that warmer ocean temperatures could lead to major flooding every 15 years.

Australia ain’t seen nothing yet, apparently. As flood waters in Queensland reach their peak today scientists are saying that the huge storms that caused the disaster could become a regular occurrence in coming years. It is not abnormal for Australia to experience heavy storms at this time of year, fueled by the La Niña phenomenon that causes a build up of warm water on the continent’s east coast. But this year the water temperatures were higher than expected, causing heavier rain, and scientists believe climate change may be responsible. If ocean temperatures continue to rise, by 2040 they could lead to catastrophic flooding every 15 years. The current flooding has killed 13 people since November.