Australia's torrential rains are driving up global coal prices, as flood damage to the resource-rich northeastern state of Queensland raises fresh questions about the storms' connections to global warming and climate patterns in the Asia-Pacific region.

http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/01/12/12climatewire-australias-record-rains-squeeze-world-coal-s-38897.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

NYTimes - Australia's Record Rains Squeeze World Coal Supplies as Scientists Study Climate Pattern
Published: January 12, 2011