Australian Climate

Australian Climate

Australian Climate Zones

When looking at the climate of Australia, we can break up the continent into three basic areas of climate. The tropical region containing the northern peninsulas of Australia, as well as the city of Darwin, is hot and extremely wet. Average maximum temperatures range from 30 - 39°C with an average annual rainfall of up to 400 cm. The tropical north is covered with rainforests and is regularly hit by tropical monsoons, hence the extreme amount of precipitation. Secondly, the central deserts and grasslands cover over seventy percent of the inland and receive the least amount of rain, from 12 to 100 cm annually. The maximum temperature ranges from 24°C in the southern deserts to over 36°C in the northern grasslands. This enormous section of Australia is usually referred to as the “Outback” and is not densely populated. The third and most heavily-populated climate area is the temperate south and southeast. The big cities in Australia – Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane and Perth – are all located in the south, and all in the southeast except for Perth. We will focus on the southeastern coastal area when talking about this temperate climate zone, as the vast majority of Australians live in this area. The climate here is very moist and mild; although not as wet as the tropical north, receiving anywhere from 50 to 320 cm of rain annually, but much wetter in comparison to the Outback. The average maximum temperature in the southeast ranges from 12 to 27°C, which is more livable compared to the rest of the continent. To understand just how these climate zones function, we must look at the subtropical high that exists in the southern “horse latitudes” of around 30°S.

The Subtropica...

... middle of paper ...

...on of El Nino, which many think has to do with increased pollution and other human influences on the environment, has created an almost constant state of drought in Australia. For the citizens of Australia, we can only hope that the global community can strive to treat the environment better, as the smallest detrimental actions can have far-reaching consequences when it comes to weather and society.

Bibliography

Australia Bureau of Meteorology, “Bureau of Meteorology Home Page,” http://www.bom.gov.au/

Dimantina Touring, “Outback Australia Climate,” http://www.diamantina-tour.com.au/outback_info/climate.htm

Earthsci.org, “Australia Climate,” http://earthsci.org/weather/austwea/autwea.htm

Monash University, “ Australia ’s Climate,” http://www.monash.edu/international/australia/climate/

Weathersavvy.com, “Deserts,” http://weathersavvy.com/Q-Deserts1.html