Lyla Lindsey
Australia is a megadiverse country with a wide variety of landscapes and climates. The climate of Australia varies from wet tropical in the northeast and northwest to arid in the interior. The tropical savannah zone of Northern Australia is warm to hot all year, with the wet season bringing heavy rain, thunderstorms, and tropical cyclones. The rest of the country lies in the desert centre, including Alice Springs and Uluru, with little rain falling during the hottest months. The coastal south is temperate and humid, with winter freezing and snow in the southeastern highlands and Tasmania.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Climate | The climate of Australia ranges from wet tropical in the northeast and northwest to arid in the centre. The coastal south is temperate and humid with winter freezing and snow in the southeastern highlands and Tasmania. |
| Diversity | Australia is a megadiverse country, with a wide variety of landscapes and climates including deserts in the interior and tropical rainforests along the coast. |
| Temperature | The temperature in Australia has increased by 0.7 °C between 1910 and 2004, with overnight minimum temperatures rising faster than daytime maximum temperatures. Since 1910, there has been a total increase of 1.5 °C in Australian temperatures. |
| Seasons | The wet season in Australia is associated with tropical cyclones, thunderstorms, and monsoon rains. The dry season, from October to March, is the hottest period, with average temperatures often exceeding 35 °C. |
| Geography | Australia is the world's flattest and driest inhabited continent, with an average annual rainfall of 419-470 mm. About 70% of the country is arid or semi-arid, and about 18% is desert. |
| Tropical Areas | The Top End, Kimberley, North and Far North Queensland, and the northern and southern parts of Western Australia are considered tropical regions in Australia. |
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What You'll Learn
Northern Australia is wet tropical
Australia has the second driest climate of any continent, after Antarctica. However, the country is affected by the El Niño–Southern Oscillation, which causes extensive droughts alongside significant wet periods. The climate is variable, with frequent and long droughts, occasional dust storms, and rare tornadoes. Tropical cyclones, heat waves, bushfires, and frosts are also associated with the Southern Oscillation.
The tropical savannah zone of Northern Australia is warm to hot all year. The region has two distinct climate zones. The northern end, including Darwin, has a tropical savannah climate with high humidity and two seasons: the wet (October to April) and the dry (May to September). During the dry season, nearly every day is warm and sunny, and there is very little rainfall.
During the wet season, humid north-westerly winds bring showers and thunderstorms to the tropical areas of northern Australia. Tropical cyclones can also bring heavy rainfall to tropical coastal regions, which can reach inland. The wet season is associated with tropical cyclones and monsoon rains. On average, more than 1,570 mm (62 inches) of rain falls in the north.
The Kimberley region in northern Australia has an extremely hot monsoonal climate with average annual rainfall ranging from 500 to 1,500 mm (20 to 59 inches). The Top End, Kimberley, and much of North and Far North Queensland are affected by the Australian monsoon (wet season), which brings heavy rain, thunderstorms, tropical cyclones, and frequent flooding from November to April.
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The Australian monsoon
Australia is the second-driest continent, after Antarctica. However, the country does experience extensive droughts and wet periods. The Australian monsoon, also known as the "Wet", is a seasonal source of water that brings heavy rain, thunderstorms, tropical cyclones, and frequent flooding to the Top End, Kimberley, and much of North and Far North Queensland.
The summer monsoon rainfall occurs in sporadic bursts, each lasting a few days or weeks, with relatively dry periods in between. The total amount of rain that falls during the monsoon depends on the intensity, number, and duration of these bursts. While the average rainfall over northern Australia is largest between January and February, the timing and amount of rainfall during the monsoon can vary greatly from year to year.
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Tropical cyclones
Australia is the second-driest continent in the world after Antarctica, with frequent droughts. However, it does experience extensive periods of wet weather, and the country is affected by tropical cyclones. These primarily occur between December and April, but they have been known to develop as early as November and as late as May. On average, the Australian region experiences 11 cyclones a year, although typically only four to six of these will reach the mainland. The regions between Broome and Exmouth are most prone to cyclones.
The Australian Climate Service draws together experts from across the Australian Government’s leading science agencies to analyse and curate data and intelligence on natural disasters, including tropical cyclones. This supports the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), which considers all natural hazards and the interaction between hazards in preparing for, and responding to, climate change.
The CSIRO is also researching tropical cyclones to understand their causes and likely changes in intensity and frequency. It is difficult to discern long-term variations in the characteristics of tropical cyclones because of limitations in long-term data availability. However, there has been a downward trend in the number of tropical cyclones observed in the Australian region since 1982. This is supported by non-satellite observations, which suggest a longer-term reduction in the number of tropical cyclones since 1900.
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Climate variability
Australia's climate varies significantly, ranging from wet tropical in the northeast and northwest to arid in the centre. The coastal south is temperate and humid, with winter freezing and snow in the southeastern highlands and Tasmania. The climate is influenced by various factors, including its position in the "'horse latitudes", which brings arid conditions, and the subtropical high-pressure belt, which results in dry summers in the south and dry winters in the north.
The Australian monsoon, also known as the wet season, brings significant rainfall to northern Australia, with the majority of rainfall occurring between December and March. During this period, thunderstorms are common, and afternoon relative humidity averages over 70% in the wettest months. Tropical cyclones, which primarily occur between December and April, can bring destructive winds, heavy rainfall, and flooding to coastal areas.
In contrast, the rest of the territory lies in the desert centre of the country, including Alice Springs and Uluru, with little rain falling during the hottest months from October to March. Summers in these regions are very hot, with average temperatures often exceeding 35 °C, while winters are relatively cool, with minimum temperatures dipping as low as 5 °C.
The climate in Australia is highly variable, with frequent droughts and flooding. Bushfire conditions are common in southern Australia, and the country is affected by the El Niño–Southern Oscillation, resulting in extensive droughts and considerable wet periods. Climate change has led to a rise in temperatures, with an increase in extreme heat and heavy rainfall events.
Overall, Australia's diverse landscapes and climates include tropical rainforests, deserts, and snowy mountains. The northern and southern parts of Western Australia have contrasting climates, with the north being tropical and the south having a Mediterranean climate. The Kimberley region in the north is sparsely wooded, while the southwestern region is a biodiversity "hot spot" with a wealth of flora and fauna.
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The Great Barrier Reef
Australia experiences a wide range of climatic conditions, from tropical savannah in the north to arid and semi-arid desert regions in the interior. While the country is known for its hot summers, with average January maximum temperatures exceeding 30°C, and occasional heat waves, the climate is highly variable.
Now, let's focus on the Great Barrier Reef, one of Australia's most remarkable natural wonders.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia is a large country with a diverse climate. The climate ranges from wet tropical in the northeast and northwest to arid in the centre. About half of the country is tropical or subtropical. The tropical savannah zone of Northern Australia is warm to hot all year.
The tropical regions of Australia experience a wet season, which brings heavy rain, thunderstorms, tropical cyclones, and frequent flooding. The wet season usually lasts from November or December to March or April.
The coastal south of Australia is temperate and humid, with winter freezing and snow in the southeastern highlands and Tasmania. The centre of the country is arid or semi-arid with little rain, and the rest of the territory lies in the desert.
Australia is the driest inhabited continent, with an average annual rainfall of 419-470 millimetres. The hottest regions are in the northwest of the country, and the coolest in the southeast. The hottest months are November in the Kimberley, December a little farther south, and January/February in the rest of the country. The coolest month is July.
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