Update: this is a long way north from Brisbane, fortunately.
Queensland Again
Michael Tobis
Michael Tobis, editor-in-chief of Planet3.0 and site cofounder, has always been interested in the interface between science and public policy. He holds a doctorate from the University of Wisconsin - Madison in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences where he developed a 3-D ocean model on a custom computing platform. He has been involved in sustainability conversations on the internet since 1992, has been a web software developer since 2000, and has been posting sustainability articles on the web since 2007.
The bigger (longer term) danger to the GBR comes from the extra heat going into the oceans that is driving this cyclone to new heights of ferocity.
Yeah, I know Cairns too. There's going to be damage.
The reef?The worst impact will be later, the same as from any other floods. Water contaminated with fertilisers and pesticides on top of the expected silts are not coral friendly.Population affected? Cairns area, 150000ish, Townsville, 170000ish plus Ayr Innisfail and other points down to Mackay – population 120000ish plus a few evacuees.
Eli, we'll see, but not much I opine. Storm surge should protect much of it.From my one visit the the reef out of Cairns.
what happens to the barrier reef?
See projected storm trackI've been in Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, the Whitsundays. A 2-meter storm surge is not good.
It may be a long way north of Brisbane, but there are still some larger settlements up there. It could be Queensland's biggest ever cyclone (depending how it behaves over the next 24 hours or so).
Urge? No. Evacuation is now compulsory in parts of Cairns. The storm surge is now expected to be 2 metres rather than the deeply feared 4 metres, but with a cyclone of this power and size raging in afterwards, evacuation is the best thing. They're telling people who are "self-evacuating" to try to get as far as Mackay or further south.
this one?"Cyclone roars toward Australia's flooded north(AP) – 42 minutes agoSYDNEY (AP) — Authorities scrambled to airlift hospital patients from the path of a cyclone roaring toward waterlogged northeastern Australia and urged low-lying communities to evacuate because of potentially deadly flash floods…."http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ijITPYCobCrNETFfXByTUyx71wMQ?docId=144c4ed7663c473db211a486ec485a3f
Perhaps Lord Monckton has asked a friend in high places to send a message to Brisbane-based John Cook for his comprehensive busting of Monckton Myths.