Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2015L01389:body:0:p56
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2015L01389
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 161733–164550

tidal fluctuation. Without regular flushing of seawater, the lagoon will become further deoxygenated and brackish and is likely to support freshwater weeds in the shallower waters.
A positive impact of the lagoon closure is the colonisation of the lagoon entrance by plants and trees that provide additional habitat for breeding seabirds. Masked boobies have been observed nesting in this area since the closure of the lagoon (Hobbs 2009).
Climate
The climate of North Keeling Island corresponds closely with that of the southern atoll of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.
The Cocos (Keeling) Islands are situated in the humid, tropical zone, at the southern edge of the equatorial low-pressure belt which moves northwards and southwards according to the season. The islands are subject to the north-west monsoons from January to May, which are moderated by oceanic conditions. Relatively strong, constant south-east trade winds blow for much of the year, both during and outside the monsoon season.
In 2010, the wettest year on record for the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, over 3 metres of rainfall was recorded.
The main climatic features of the islands are:
    * Annual rainfall varying between about 855 and 3,490 mm, with an average of 1,979 mm per annum
    * Annual evaporation of about 2,375 mm, with an average daily evaporation of 6.5 mm
    * Relatively uniform temperatures, with an average daily maximum temperature of 29°C and average daily minimum temperature of 24.5°C
    * Relative humidity ranging between about 60 per cent and 85 per cent, with a mean of about 75 per cent
    * Mean daily surface pressure of approximately 1,010 hectopascals. Extremely low pressure values may, however, be recorded during the passage of tropical cyclones
    * Prevailing winds from the east to south-east for all months, showing the influence of the south-east trade winds
    * Varying mean daily wind speeds, with the trade winds averaging 25 to 30 kilometres per hour and a maximum gust during a cyclone recorded at 176 kilometres per hour in 1968.
In 2006, the Director commissioned a study of the potential implications of climate change for management of Commonwealth reserves, including Pulu Keeling National Park (Hyder 2008). The terrestrial and marine environments of the park are potentially exposed to a number of impacts associated with climate change.

The future climate change projections include:
     * Increased seasonal air temperature ranging from 0.6°C warmer by 2030 to 1.8°C warmer by 2070
     * Increased sea surface temperature by 0.6°C in 2030, which may reach 1.8°C by 2070
     * Possible reduction in rainfall during the dry seasons
     * An average sea level rise of 14 centimetres in 2030, 40 centimetres by 2070 and up to 1.1 metres by the end of the 21st century (worst case scenario)