86 Greater Blue Mountains · New South Wales, Australia

We have selected 100 unique places on Earth that are projected to
undergo profound changes within the next few generations.


We based our selection of the 100 places on the 4th Assessment
Report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Simply by drawing attention to the beauty of these places, 100 Places to
Remember Before they Disappear creates an argument to preserve
them.

The 100 Places we have chosen to highlight, and the people who
live in them, are in serious danger because of rising sea levels, rising
temperatures and extreme weather events triggered by climate change.

Among ambassadors are Joss Stone, Desmond Tutu for more info visit http://www.100places.com - . Greater Blue Mountains · New South Wales, Australia

A Blue Haze of Eucalyptus Vapour

This rugged sandstone plateau, with its steep mountainsides, deep gorges and inaccessible valleys, rivers and lakes, takes its name from the blue haze that emanates from its eucalyptus forest.

Covering 10,000 square kilometres west of Sydney, the Greater Blue Mountains are home to more than 100 eucalyptus genera, many of which are believed to be evolutionary relict species that have survived for almost 200 million years.

The blue haze is caused by vapour from highly flammable eucalyptus oil released into the atmosphere by the leaves in response to heat.

It has been this way for millions of years, and occasional wildfires caused by the heat and vapour are part of the ecosystem. Many of the eucalyptus and other native floral species are so adapted to fire that they only release their seeds to allow new plants to grow after fires.
This is a very delicately balanced system, and the projected rise in average annual temperature and decrease in rainfall due to climate change could lead to an increased risk of more frequent, intense and destructive wildfires within the next 20-60 years.

If the fires become too frequent, they could kill the plants before they have matured sufficiently to produce new seeds. This would lead to a significant decline in the diversity of eucalyptus species and other flora, and alter the fragile ecosystem of the Greater Blue Mountain area.

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• COP 15
• 100 places
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• climate
• change.

[OverSoulMatrix33]

great advertising, saying its about to burn up..!

[THURGOODa]

there not BLUE O.o

[fackeo]

why the piano tune ? it spoils the effect you are trying to pass on