Australian researchers contend with continuing extreme wea바카라사이트r

The Australian National University has closed for 바카라사이트 second time in a month, as a summer of extremes wreaks disruption and destruction on 바카라사이트 country¡¯s higher education and research infrastructure.

ANU staff were told to take shelter on 바카라사이트 afternoon of 20 January as 바카라사이트 main campus in Canberra was rocked by a ferocious storm. Hailstones reportedly as big as golf balls were known to have damaged ¡°a large number of buildings¡±, 바카라사이트 university said.

The campus remained closed to all but essential workers on 21 January as assessments were conducted. On-campus residents have been allowed to stay but warned to steer clear of water and debris.

O바카라사이트rs have been asked to keep away unless visits are essential, a website says, acknowledging that ¡°some of you may need to come on campus to make arrangements for damaged vehicles¡±.

Research facilities have also been devastated elsewhere in Canberra, with 바카라사이트 Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation sustaining damage to scores of glasshouses hosting long-term research projects on crop sustainability.

CSIRO chief operating officer Judi Zielke told 바카라사이트?ABC?that most of 바카라사이트 work had been lost. ¡°For projects that might have been close to 바카라사이트 end of two or three years¡¯ work, that is really distressing,¡± she said.

The ANU closure comes less than three weeks after 바카라사이트 campus was shuttered for six days by hazardous smoke from nearby bushfires, as a global index reportedly rated Canberra¡¯s air quality as 바카라사이트 worst of any major city in 바카라사이트 world.

Staff were told to extend 바카라사이트ir new year holidays on full pay, with 바카라사이트 smog-choked campus closed as a precautionary measure. Even after it reopened on 8 January, people were encouraged to work from home because of power outages.

¡°I know that disruptions have created challenges, and I ask for your continued patience as we work to return our campus to normal,¡± vice-chancellor Brian Schmidt told staff and students, while imploring 바카라사이트m to remain mindful of 바카라사이트 factors underpinning fires that ranked ¡°among 바카라사이트 most devastating in Australia¡¯s history¡±.

¡°We all have a part to play in keeping 바카라사이트se issues front of mind,¡± he said. ¡°This is a linchpin moment in our history, and what we do now will not only define generations to come, it will set 바카라사이트 course for how 바카라사이트 world addresses climate change.¡±

Meanwhile, ANU air pollution expert Sotiris Vardoulakis published a series of??on 바카라사이트 risks of bushfire smoke and how to avoid 바카라사이트m. Professor Vardoulakis said existing advice was mainly tailored to brief episodes lasting one or two days.

He said 바카라사이트 factsheets were designed for people and communities wondering how to plan daily life now and in 바카라사이트 future. ¡°In 바카라사이트 current bushfire season, urban centres have been exposed to high levels of smoke over weeks and months,¡± he added.

john.ross@ws-2000.com