REGIONAL INDEXES OF CLIMATE VARIATION - TEMPERATURE AND RAINFALL IN QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA

Authors
Citation
Jm. Lough, REGIONAL INDEXES OF CLIMATE VARIATION - TEMPERATURE AND RAINFALL IN QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA, International journal of climatology, 17(1), 1997, pp. 55-66
Citations number
21
Categorie Soggetti
Metereology & Atmospheric Sciences
ISSN journal
08998418
Volume
17
Issue
1
Year of publication
1997
Pages
55 - 66
Database
ISI
SICI code
0899-8418(1997)17:1<55:RIOCV->2.0.ZU;2-A
Abstract
Indices of temperature and rainfall are developed for Queensland, Aust ralia as an aid to monitoring climate variation and change. The rainfa ll index is based on 17 stations and extends from 1890. The temperatur e index is based on six stations and extends from 1910. These series c an be updated promptly and although based on a small number of station s appear to reflect the major climate variations in Queensland over th e past century. There is no significant trend towards wetter or drier conditions in Queensland in either summer or winter. Although the Stat e has recently suffered from an extended drought, this dry period does not appear to be particularly unusual in the 105-year record. In cont rast, average and minimum temperatures and the daily temperature range show significant trends since 1910 in both summer and winter. Minimum temperatures have increased and the daily temperature range has decre ased, especially in the early winter season, April-May.