State of the Environment

2006

Indicator: A-05 Temperature extremes - percentage area of extreme annual mean temperatures

Data

Percentage area hot (above 90th percentile) and cold (below 10th percentile)

Percentage area hot (above 90th percentile) and cold (below 10th percentile)

Source: Bureau of Meteorology 2005, Percentage area of Australia with annual mean T in Decile 1 (<10th percentile) and Decile 10 (>90th percentile).

What the data mean

The percentage of Australia experiencing cooler conditions shows a slight decrease over the reporting period 1900 to 2004, while the percentage experiencing warmer condition shows an increase, particularly since 1980.

Data Limitations

Nill known

Issues for which this is an indicator and why

Atmosphere - Climate variability and change - Weather 

Trends in temperatures and their spatial distribution are an indicator of climate variability and change, which in turn have an impact on our human, economic and environmental health.

Other indicators for this issue:

Land - Contributions and pressures between the land and the atmosphere - Climate 

Trends in temperatures and their spatial distribution are an indicator of climate variability and change, which in turn have an impact on the land.

Other indicators for this issue:

Inland Waters - Catchment scale influences - Influence of climate variability and change 

Trends in temperatures and their spatial distribution are an indicator of climate variability and change, which in turn have an impact on inland waters.

Other indicators for this issue:

Biodiversity - Pressures on biodiversity - Climate variability 

Trends in temperatures and their spatial distribution are an indicator of climate variability and change, which in turn have an impact on biodiversity.

Other indicators for this issue:

Further Information

Source: Roderick ML and Farquhar GD 2004, Changes in Australian pan evaporation from 1970 to 2002.

Key

   Links to another web site
   Links to data in the DRS
   Opens a pop-up window

PDF files

Adobe Acrobat Reader  is required to view PDF files.

If you are unable to access a PDF file, please contact us to organise a suitable alternative format.