Effects of climate change 'felt by 2090'

The cool oceans around New Zealand will limit the impact of global warming, pipfruit growers heard at a conference yesterday.

New Zealand was in a much better position than the continents, however significant effects of climate change are predicted in natural ecosystems by 2020, especially in the alps.

This century would bring a dramatic regional change in crop production, including the shift of pipfruit from Nelson and Hawkes Bay to Wairarapa, Canterbury and South Otago.

The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research's principal climate scientist Jim Salinger, told the Pipfruit New Zealand conference in Nelson yesterday that by 2090, the traditional growing areas would be too humid, too wet and too cold for pipfruit.

Temperature increases of between 2deg and 4deg were likely by the end of this century, he said. However, New Zealand would warm more slowly than the rest of the world.

It was predicted global sea levels would rise by 60cm or more by 2100, and New Zealand would have more rain in the west and droughts in the east, and strengthening westerly winds.