2021 was Australia’s coolest year since 2012, but this isolated statistic is misleading.
If we were to judge 2021 only against the standards of the past decade, we would miss the bigger picture which is the overall trend of the past thirty or forty years.
The mean temperature in 2021 was still 0.56 degrees warmer than the average of the baseline years, 1961-1990. It was the 19th warmest year since records began in 1910.
What does this mean for your Adelaide Park Lands?
Like other cities around the world, Adelaide is having to adapt to warmer temperatures. Nowhere is this more obvious than in Victoria Park / Pakapakanthi (Park 16) where a vast area of bitumen has replaced a cool green park environment, since motor racing began in the Park in 1985.
“Pit straight” in Victoria Park / Pakapakanthi (Park 16) - currently being used for COVID-19 testing.
APA’s Ted Jennings has been recording surface temperatures in the Park over recent months.
The data is being compiled into a spreadsheet, which he hopes will influence decisions about the Park’s future - in particular, to address calls for more tree cover.
Ted noted one of the clearest examples of the cooling effect of trees and Open Green Public Space on New Year’s Eve 2021, when on Grant Avenue in Rose Park, the temperature was 40.8 degrees, and the Bureau of Meteorology reported the temperature in Adelaide was 38.4 degrees.
Ted was cycling westwards along Grant Avenue and across Fullarton Road into Victoria Park / Pakapakanthi (Park 16).
“As I reached my first testing spot next to the filtered drink fountain, where Grant Avenue crosses Fullarton Road, I was flabbergasted as the surface temperature had shot up 20 degrees to 61.6° on the bike path. This isn’t the highest reading I’ve taken in Park 16, which incidentally was 72.3° on Pit Straight.
Ted’s temperature readings in Victoria Park / Pakapakanthi (Park 16) on New Years Eve. 61.6 degrees on bitumen near Fullarton Road and 17.7 degrees under the shade of Ted’s favourite river red gum, “Tabitha”.
“Now for the good news! As I ventured through the line of cars lined up for COVID PCR testing, I crossed the grass to visit “Tabitha” - a lone gum tree, which I’ve named and unofficially adopted.
“I was absolutely flabbergasted that the temperature under Tabitha’s canopy was only 17.7°.
Ted Jennings (right) and his children, Nate (left) and Alice (centre) under the canopy of “Tabitha” in Victoria Park / Pakapakanthi (Park 16). Photo: Sunday Mail.
“The best time to plant a tree was 30 years ago! The second best time to plant a tree is today.
“My New Year’s resolution this year was to plant one tree a week in 2022. Three weeks into the year, I’ve planted three, which puts me well on track to complete this resolution.”
If you want to help restore tree cover to Victoria Park / Pakapakanthi (Park 16), get in touch with the “Reimagine Victoria Park” group.
