World-first study into ‘real’ western Sydney temperatures
Getting an accurate reading for western Sydney’s weather is a tough science. In a world-first study, researchers are collecting data to provide the real answers this summer.
Parramatta
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A world-first urban heat study is under way to find out the “real” temperatures of CBD concrete jungles across western Sydney.
As the west gets set to sizzle in mid-40s extreme heat tomorrow, researchers are collecting data this summer from 340 sensors across the Parramatta, Cumberland and Campbelltown LGAs to provide “real-feel” readings at CBDs, parks, industrial sites, as well as tree-lined and barren streetscapes.
The man leading the project, Dr Sebastian Pfautsch, said the Bureau of Meteorology’s weather stations for many locations were away from concrete-cluttered CBDs.
“For example, Parramatta only has one BOM station — in North Parramatta, which is not really relevant to the CBD,” the urban ecosystems scientist from Western Sydney University said.
“Pilot studies have shown that temperatures across Parramatta have about a seven-degree difference, meaning that any readings in North Parramatta would be much less than the real temperature in the CBD.”
He said the findings from the study would be crucial to future planning for councils and emergency services.
“We’re recording air temperatures at 10-minute intervals across the whole summer,” Dr Pfautsch said. “This is a world first; nobody has looked at microclimate in an urban space at that density. We’ll be recording the temperatures of what people really feel in summer.
“We’ll still measure air temperature, but it’ll be done at such a fine scale that we will find the places that are really hot and ones which are cool.”
He said 50-degree days were “not far off” in western Sydney.
“The international body that looks at climate change and the Bureau of Meteorology both predict more heatwaves,” Dr Pfautsch said.
“All of the models for eastern Australia point to more days above 35 degrees, and on top of that, more frequent, longer lasting and more extreme heatwaves.
“So it’s not far off that we’re going to see 50-degree days in western Sydney. And we’ll see more temperatures in the mid-40s around Parramatta CBD where there is urban densification taking place.
“Densification means more hard surfaces and infrastructure that can store heat much longer during the day and emitting it in the night.”
Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster Anita Pyne said temperatures in the west were forecast to hit 45 degrees tomorrow.
“It’s expected to be 40 degrees in Parramatta and 45 degrees in Penrith,” she said.
“Last night the minimum temperature in Parramatta was 22.2 degrees and a high relative humidity of 77 per cent, combined with the heat, made it feel grosser.”
Ms Pyne said a cool change was expected to see temperatures drop 10 degrees by Saturday morning when a southerly change kicks in.
NSW Health, which has seen an increase in heart-related incidences this week, is advising people to keep up their fluids and look out for the elderly tomorrow.
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