As millions around the world mark the 51st Earth Day, we look at how the Shire's climate has changed since 1970

Dr Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick discusses the Shire's warming April climate. Plus, how do rising temperatures impact our farmers?

The Shire's hottest April day is almost three degrees warmer than it was 50 years ago. St George and Shire, 22 April 2021, Source: Monash University.

Today is Earth Day - a time to think about how our climate is changing.

The hottest day in April typically reaches around 32 degrees - almost three degrees warmer than the first Earth Day 51 years ago.

Small changes in the climate can lead to more extreme weather events including heatwaves and drought.

Voices from your community

Yarrawarrah resident Casey Gentgall noticed changes in nearby bushland.

"Autumn is often warmer for a significant portion of the season," she said.

"The local bushland is also much drier than usual.

"There have been more bushfires in the summer, which have occurred closer to home than in the past."

Community voices like Casey's tell us how residents and business owners in Sydney feel about their local climate. If you would like to contribute your voice to our column, you can fill out our 5-minute survey here.

Did you know?

Australia's warming climate may impact farming.

Crops like wheat and rice rely on temperature cues to know when to flower.

Rising temperatures interfere with these cues.

This can shorten the growth period of crops, which reduces their quality.

Want more information on how your climate is changing? Check out the last article in this series.

Dr Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick is a climate scientist at the University of New South Wales.

This column is part of a collaboration between the Monash Climate Change Communication Research Hub and News Corp to deliver hyperlocal weather and climate information.

Follow the Hub on Twitter to join the conversation.