# The Climate and Weather of Australia

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METEOROLOGY OF AUSTRALIA COMMONWEALTH BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY
THE CLIMATE AND WEATHER OF AUSTRALIA
BY
H. A. HUNT
COMMONWEALTH METEOROLOGIST
GRIFFITH TAYLOR
B.A. (CAMB.), B.SC., B.E. (SYD)., F.G.S., PHYSIOGRAPHER
AND
E. T. QUAYLE, B.A.
ASSISTANT METEOROLOGIST
ISSUED UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR HOME AFFAIRS
MELBOURNE:
BY AUTHORITY: ALBERT J. MULLETT, GOVERNMENT PRINTER
1913
Price—5s.
PREFATORY NOTE.
In submitting this small work to the public, we venture to express the hope that it may prove acceptable as being the first effort in the nature of a text-book that has been published on Australian Meteorology.
Our acknowledgments are due to the staff individually and collectively for their ready co-operation in the compilation of data on which the whole subject-matter is based.
Finally, we should like to remind our readers of the imperishable debt of gratitude we all owe to those revered pioneers in Australian Meteorology, H. C. Russell, Esq., B.A., C.M.G., F.R.S.; R. L. J. Ellery, Esq., C.M.G., F.R.S.; and Sir Chas. Todd, M.A., F.R.S., whose strenuous and untiring labours contributed so largely towards bringing our knowledge of Australian climatology to its present advanced stage at a comparatively early age in our national history.
H. A. HUNT.
GRIFFITH TAYLOR.
E. T. QUAYLE.
LIST OF MAPS AND CHARTS.
| Fig. | | Page |
| 1-12 | Mean Monthly Temperatures. (12 Maps.) | 8 |
| 13 | Mean Annual Temperature | 9 |
| 14 | Chart showing Maximum Duration of Hot Spells | 9 |
| 15-26 | Mean Monthly Pressures. (12 Maps.) | 12 |
| 27 | Mean Annual Pressure | 12 |
| 28 | Graph of Mean Monthly Pressures at State Capitals | 12 |
| 29 | Pressure in April, 1910 | 12 |
| 30 | Pressure in July, 1910 | 12 |
| 31 | Pressure in December, 1910 | 12 |
| 32 | Path of the Anticyclones, January-June, 1910 | 14 |
| 33 | Path„ of the„ Anticyclones„ July-December, 1910 | 14 |
| 34 | Path of Tropical and Antarctic Lows, January-June, 1910 | 14 |
| 35 | Path„ of Tropical„ And„ Antarctic„ Lows„ July-December, 1910 | 14 |
| 36 | Land and Sea Breezes at Perth | 18 |
| 37 | Land and Sea Breezes at Adelaide | 19 |
| 38 | Mean Annual Rainfall | 20 |
| 39-50 | Mean Monthly Rainfall. (12 Maps.) | 20 |
| 51 | Distribution of Monthly Maxima | 20 |
| 52 | Map showing by Graphs Mean Monthly Rainfall of Chief Stations | 20 |
| 55 | Temperature and Humidity of Principal Stations | 22 |
| 53 | Humidity in Hottest Month | 22 |
| 54 | Humidity in Coldest Month | 22 |
| 55 | Graphs showing maximum and minimum temperatures and humidity for various stations | 22 |
| 56 | Relation of Climate and Topography in South-East Australia | 24 |
| 57 | Climatological Regions of Australia. (Table in Text) | 26 |
| 58 | Climatological„ Regions„ of„ Australia„ (Map) | 26 |
| 59 | Chart of Local Autumn Rains at Sydney | 35 |
| 60-65 | Characteristics of Drought Years. (6 Maps.) | 47 |
| 66-71 | Characteristics„ of„ Drought„ Years„ (6 Maps.) | 48 |
| 72-74 | Characteristics„ of„ Drought„ Years„ (3 Maps.) | 49 |
| 75 | Wind Roses for Western Australian Gold-fields | 53 |
| 76 | Map of S.E. Australia, showing Two Flood Areas | 56 |
| 77-82 | Isobaric Charts for the Victorian Floods in August. 1910. (6 Maps.) | 56 |
| 83-88 | Isobaric Charts for the Darling Floods of January, 1910. (6 Maps.) | 53 |
| 89 | Phenomenal Down pours in Queensland | 60 |
| 90 | Phenomenal Down pours in Western Australia | 60 |
| 91-92 | Chart of the "Koombana" Hurricane. (March, 1912.) | 61 |
| 93-6 | Chart of the Fiji Hurricane. (March, 1910.) | 66 |
| 97-98 | Chart of the Queensland Hurricane. (March, 1911.) | 69 |
| 99-100 | The Southerly Burster in New South Wales. (2 Maps.) | 70 |
| 101-159 | Types of Weather. (59 Maps.) | 74 |
CLIMATE AND WEATHER OF AUSTRALIA.
CONTENTS.
| | | Page |
| Climate— | | |
| I. | —Size of Continent and Effect on Climatic Variation | 7 |
| II. | —March of the Temperature | 8 |
| III. | —Barometric Variation— | |
| | General | 12 |
| | Local | 13 |
| | Paths of the Highs and Lows | 14 |
| IV. | —Distribution of the Dominant Winds— | |
| | Trade Winds | 17 |
| | Land and Sea Breezes | 18 |
| V. | —Rainfall Monthly and Seasonal Distribution | 19 |
| VI. | —Humidity and Wet Bulb Temperatures | 22 |
| VII. | —Special Factors influencing Climate— | |
| | Ocean Currents | 23 |
| | Topography | 24 |
| VIII. | —Chief Climatic Regions— | |
| | Northern Monsoonal Summer Rains | 26 |
| | Central Arid Region | 29 |
| | Intermediate Region of Uniform Rains | 33 |
| | Winter Rain Region | 37 |
| Weather— | | |
| IX. | —Characteristics of Drought Years | 40 |
| X. | —Characteristics of Local Rain— | |
| | (A) Rainfall in the West Australian Gold-fields | 52 |
| | (B) Flood Rains— | |
| | (1) Victoria | 56 |
| | (2) Darling | 58 |
| | (3) Queensland | 59 |
| | (4) Western Australia | 60 |
| XI. | —Special Type of Weather— | |
| | (A) Western Australian Hurricanes | 61 |
| | (B) Hurricanes in South-West Pacific | 66 |
| | (C) Southerly Bursters | 70 |
| XII. | —(A) Forecasting | 72 |
| | (B) Types of Weather | 75 |
INDEX.
| | page |
| Adelaide, drought years, departures of mean air pressure and temperature from normal | 43 |
| Adelaide„ humidity | 22 |
| Adelaide„ mean monthly temperature and rainfall | 11 |
| Adelaide„ normal pressure and temperature | 38 |
| Adelaide„ normal rainfall | 39 |
| Adelaide„ rainfall and evaporation during drought years | 51 |
| Albury, normal pressure and temperature | 38 |
| Albury„ normal rainfall | 39 |
| Alice Springs, departures of mean air pressure and temperature from normal | 44 |
| Alice„Springs„ normal pressure and temperature | 31 |
| Alice„Springs„ normal rainfall | 32 |
| Alice„Springs„ rainfall and evaporation during drought years | 51 |
| Antarctic cyclone passing inland | 77 |
| Antarctic„cyclone„ passing through Bass Strait | 75 |
| Antarctic„ cyclones | 48 |
| Antarctic„ depressions | 48 |
| Antarctic„depressions„ favorable to good inland rains | 75 |
| Antarctic„depressions„ unfavorable to good inland rains | 75 |
| Anticyclone causing S.E. winds and rain in N.S.W. coastal districts | 33 |
| Anticyclone„ forced southwards over Tasmania | 79 |
| Anticyclone„ Summer | 75 |
| Anticyclone„ Winter | 75 |
| Antioyclones, rate of movement of— | 15 |
| Anticyclones„ tracks of— | 14 |
| Area of Continent | 7 |
| Arid region | 29 |
| Brisbane, humidity | 22 |
| Brisbane„ mean monthly temperature and rainfall | 11 |
| Brisbane„ normal pressure and temperature | 27 |
| Brisbane„ normal rainfall | 28 |
| Broken Hill, normal pressure and temperature | 31 |
| Hill„ normal rainfall | 32 |
| Broome, normal pressure and temperature | 27 |
| Broome„ normal rainfall | 28 |
| Cairns, normal pressure and temperature | 27 |
| Cape Otway, normal pressure | 38 |
| Carnarvon, normal pressure and temperature | 31 |
| Carnarvon„ normal rainfall | 32 |
| Charleville, normal pressure and temperature | 27 |
| Charleville„ normal rainfall | 28 |
| Climate, special factors controlling— | 23 |
| Climate„ topography and its effect on | 52 |
| Climatic regions, chief— | 25 |
| Cloncurry, normal pressure and temperature | 27 |
| normal„ rainfall | 28 |
| Cold snap | 79 |
| Contour, relation of—to rainfall | 24 |
| Coolgardie, normal pressure and temperature | 31 |
| Coolgardie„ normal rainfall | 32 |
| Currents, ocean | 23 |
| Cyclone, Antarctic cyclone passing inland | 77 |
| Cyclone,„Antarctic„cyclone„ passing through Bass Strait | 75 |
| Cyclone,„ East Coast—of Antarctic origin | 82 |
| Cyclone,„East„Coast„ of inland origin | 82 |
| Cyclone,„East„Coast„ of tropical oceanic origin | 83 |
| Cyclone,„ tropical—North Queensland | 83 |
| Cyclonic depression bringing general rains to Western Australia | 76 |
| Cyclonic„ storm in South-eastern Australia (August, 1909) | 56 |
| Daly Waters, normal temperature | 27 ​ |
| Darling, floods in basin of river— | 58 |
| Darwin, normal pressure and temperature | 27 |
| Darwin„ normal rainfall | 28 |
| Drought years, characteristics of—in Australia | 40 |
| Drought„years,„ departure of mean annual pressure from normal | 47 |
| Drought„years,„ monthly mean air pressure and temperature departures from normal:— | |
| Adelaide | 43 |
| Alice Springs | 44 |
| Melbourne | 42 |
| Drought years, principal— | 40 |
| Drought„years,„ rainfall and evaporation during— | 51 |
| Dry region | 29 |
| Dry„region„ evaporation data | 30 |
| Dry„region„ pressure at typical stations in— | 31 |
| Dry„region„ rainfall at typical stations in— | 32 |
| Dry„region„ temperature at typical stations in— | 31 |
| Dry weather types | 45 |
| Dubbo, normal pressure and temperature | 35 |
| Dubbo,„ normal rainfall | 36 |
| Dust storms | 84 |
| Elevation of continent | 7 |
| Elevation„ of typical stations in dry region | 30 |
| Esperance, normal temperature and pressure | 38 |
| Esperance,„ normal rainfall | 39 |
| Eucla, normal pressure and temperature | 38 |
| Eucla,„ normal rainfall | 39 |
| Evaporation and rainfall during drought years | 51 |
| Evaporation„ data for dry region | 30 |
| Fiji hurricane of March, 1910 | 66 |
| Flood rains in Australia | 55 |
| Flood„ rains„ in„ Western Australia | 60 |
| Floods in South-eastern Australia (August, 1909) | 56 |
| Flood„ in„ basin of River Darling (January, 1910) | 58 |
| Fogs | 85 |
| Forecasting | 72 |
| Frosts | 75 |
| Gales, Easterly—through Bass Strait | 79 |
| Gales,„ Westerly—through„Bass„Strait„ | 78 |
| Hall's Creek, normal pressure and temperature | 27 |
| Hall's„creek„ normal rainfall | 28 |
| Harvey Creek, normal rainfall | 28 |
| Highs and Lows, rate of movement of— | 15 |
| Highs„and„Lows,„ tracks of— | 14 |
| Hobart, humidity | 23 |
| Hobart,„ mean monthly temperature and rainfall | 11 |
| Hobart,„ normal pressure and temperature | 35 |
| Hobart,„ normal rainfall | 36 |
| Hot spells in Southern Australia | 81 |
| Humidity and wet bulb temperatures | 22 |
| Hurricane, Queensland, Port Douglas, March, 1911 | 68 |
| Hurricane,„ the Fiji—of March, 1910 | 66 |
| Hurricanes in the South-western Pacific | 66 |
| Hurricanes„ Western Australian—(willy-willies) | 61 |
| Kiandra, normal rainfall | 36 |
| Launceston, normal temperature | 38 |
| Launceston,„ normal rainfall | 39 |
| Lows, rate of movement of highs and— | 15 |
| Lows,„ tracks of highs and— | 14 |
| Melbourne, drought years, departure of mean air pressure and temperature from normal | 42 |
| Melbourne,„ humidity | 23 |
| Melbourne,„ mean monthly temperature and rainfall | 11 |
| Melbourne,„ normal pressure and temperature | 35 |
| Melbourne,„ normal rainfall | 36 |
| Melbourne,„ rainfall and evaporation during drought years | 51 ​ |
| Monsoonal rains | 76 |
| Monsoonal„ trough | 84 |
| Monsoon region | 26 |
| Moruya, normal pressure and temperature | 35 |
| Moruya,„ normal rainfall | 36 |
| Drought„ years,„ monthly mean air pressure and temperature departures from normal:— | |
| Nullagine, normal pressure and temperature | 31 |
| Nullagine,„ normal rainfall | 32 |
| Newcastle, normal pressure and temperature | 35 |
| Ocean currents | 23 |
| Peak Hill, normal pressure and temperature | 31 |
| Peak„ Hill,„ normal rainfall | 32 |
| Perth, humidity | 22 |
| Perth,„ mean monthly temperature and rainfall | 11 |
| Perth,„ normal temperature and pressure | 38 |
| Perth,„ normal rainfall | 39 |
| Port Augusta normal pressure and temperature | 38 |
| Port„ Augusta„ normal rainfall | 39 |
| Port Macquarie, normal rainfall | 36 |
| Pressure and pressure ranges, variation of rainfall with— | 47 |
| Pressure, at typical stations in dry region | 31 |
| Pressure,„ at typical„stations„ in„ summer rain region | 27 |
| Pressure,„ at typical„stations„ in„ uniform rain region | 35 |
| Pressure,„ at typical„stations„ in„ winter rain region | 38 |
| Pressure, drought years, departure of mean annual—from normal | 47 |
| Pressure,„ drought„ years,„departure„ of„ monthly mean from„ normal„ Adelaide | 43 |
| Pressure,„ drought„ years,„departure„ of„ monthly mean from„ normal„ Alice Springs | 44 |
| Pressure,„ drought„ years,„departure„ of„ monthly mean from„ normal„ Melbourne | 42 |
| Pressure,„ general variation in— | 12 |
| Pressure,„ local variation in— | 13 |
| Pressure,„ systems in relation to rainfall in Western Australian Goldfields | 53 |
| Queensland, heavy rains of— | 59 |
| Queensland,„ Port Douglas hurricane (March, 1911) | 68 |
| Queensland,„ tropical cyclone, North— | 83 |
| Rainfall and evaporation during drought years | 51 |
| Rainfall„ at typical stations in dry region | 32 |
| Rainfall„ at typical„ stations„ in„ summer rain region | 28 |
| Rainfall„ at typical„ stations„ in„ uniform rain region | 36 |
| Rainfall„ at typical„ stations„ in„ winter rain region | 39 |
| Rainfall„ chief rainstorm types and seasons of rain | 19 |
| Rainfall„ distribution of— | 19 |
| Rainfall„ flood rains in Australia | 55 |
| Rainfall„ flood rains in Western Australia | 60 |
| Rainfall„ heavy rains of Queensland | 59 |
| Rainfall„ in Western Australian Goldfields | 52 |
| Rainfall„ mean monthly temperatures and—of the Australian capitals | 11 |
| Rainfall„ monthly and seasonal distribution of— | 19 |
| Rainfall„ region of summer— | 26 |
| Rainfall„ region of uniform— | 33 |
| Rainfall„ region of winter— | 37 |
| Rainfall„ relation to contour to— | 24 |
| Rainfall„ variation in maximum— | 21 |
| Rainfall„ variations in—with storm types | 48 |
| Rainfall„ variation of—with mean pressure and with pressure ranges | 47 |
| Rains, inland winter—of tropical origin | 77 |
| Robe, normal pressure and temperature | 38 |
| Robe,„ normal rainfall | 39 |
| Sale, normal pressure and temperature | 35 |
| Sale,„ normal rainfall | 36 |
| Seasons and the march of temperature | 8 |
| Southerly bursters | 70 |
| Stations, number of daily reporting— | 73 |
| Sydney, humidity | 22 |
| Sydney,„ mean monthly temperature and rainfall | 11 |
| Sydney,„ normal pressure and temperature | 35 |
| Sydney,„ normal rainfall | 36 |
| Sydney,„ rainfall and evaporation during drought years | 51 |
| Temperature at typical stations in dry region | 31 ​ |
| Temperature at typical stations in summer rain region | 27 |
| Temperature„ at typical„ stations in„ uniform rain region | 35 |
| Temperature„ at typical„ stations in„ winter rain region | 38 |
| Temperature drought years, departure of monthly mean from normal | |
| Adelaide | 43 |
| Alice Springs | 44 |
| Melbourne | 42 |
| Temperature„ seasons and the march of— | 8 |
| Temperatures, humidity and wet bulb | 22 |
| Temperature„ mean monthly—and rainfall of the Australian Capitals | 11 |
| Topography and its effect on climate | 24 |
| Tornadoes | 87 |
| Trade winds, South-east | 17 |
| Tropical belt, effect of air flow from | 49 |
| Tropical„ depressions | 48 |
| Types of weather | 75 |
| Weather types:— |
| Antarctic cyclone passing inland | 77 |
| Antarctic„ cyclone passing„ through Bass Strait | 75 |
| Antarctic„ depressions favorable to good inland rains | 75 |
| Antarctic„ depressions„ unfavorable to good„ inland rains„ | 75 |
| Anticyclone forced southwards over Tasmania | 79 |
| Anticyclone„ Summer— | 75 |
| Anticyclone„ Winter— | 75 |
| Cold snap, South-eastern Australia | 79 |
| Cyclonic depression bringing general rain to Western Australia | 76 |
| Dust storms | 84 |
| East coast cyclone of Antarctic origin | 82 |
| East„ coast„ cyclone„ inland origin | 82 |
| East„ coast„ cyclone„ tropical oceanic origin | 83 |
| Fogs | 85 |
| Gales, Easterly in Bass Strait | 79 |
| Gales,„ Westerly in Bass„ Strait„ | 78 |
| Hot spells in Southern Australia | 81 |
| Inland winter rains of tropical origin | 77 |
| Monsoonal rains, summer— | 76 |
| Monsoonal„ trough | 84 |
| Tornadoes | 87 |
| Tropical cyclone, North Queensland | 83 |
| Tropical„ rainstorm moving southward into South Australia | 77 |
| Willy-willy affecting coastal districts | 78 |
| Willy-„ willy„ moving inland | 78 |
| Weather types, dry— | 45 |
| Western Australia, flood rains in | 60 |
| Western Australian Goldfields, direction of rain bearing winds | 53 |
| Western„ Australian„ Goldfields,„ frequency of rain storms | 52 |
| Western„ Australian„ Goldfields,„ pressure systems in relation to rainfall | 53 |
| Western„ Australian„ Goldfields,„ rainfall in— | 52 |
| Wilcannia, normal pressure and temperature | 35 |
| Wilcannia, normal rainfall | 36 |
| William Creek, normal rainfall | 32 |
| William„ Creek,„ normal temperature | 31 |
| Willy-willies (Western Australian hurricanes) | 61, 78 |
| Winds, direction of rain-bearing—Western Australian Goldfields | 53 |
| Winds,„ dominant— | 15 |
| Winds,„ dominant—on Australian coast | 16 |
| Winds,„ land and sea breezes | 18 |
| Winds,„ South-east Trade— | 17 |
By Authority: Albert J. Mullett, Government Printer, Melbourne.
This work is in the public domain in Australia because it was created in Australia and the term of copyright has expired. According to Australian Copyright Council - Duration of Copyright, the following works are public domain:
* published non-government works whose author died before January 1, 1955,
* anonymous or pseudonymous works and photographs published before January 1, 1955, and
* government works published more than 50 years ago (before January 1, 1974).
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Because the Australian copyright term in 1996 was 50 years, the critical date for copyright in the United States under the URAA is January 1, 1946.
This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.
Public domainPublic domainfalsefalse
This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1929.
The longest-living author of this work died in 1963, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 60 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.
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