Climate

Climate Overview
Climate Averages

This data has been obtained from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM). Further work is needed to acquire more localised climate histories and predictions (3, 6 and 12 months, updated in this document regularly). For example, monthly averages including solar radiation and wind (for estimation of renewable power potential) and relative humidity (relevant for analogue suit operations, for example) may be useful. In addition, typical daily weather profiles during various months would be useful for operations planning.
 

Climate Overview

This section should be expanded to provide a detailed climatic overview with a focus on central Australia.

Mean Temperature and Median Annual Rainfall for the Australian Continent (click to enlarge).

Australian mean temperature Australian median rainfall

The driest part of Australia is Lake Eyre (adjacent to the Sturt Stony Desert) with an average rainfall of around 140 mm per annum and less than 30 rain days annually on average.



Climate Averages

Australian weather stations collect data at least daily, and BOM provides averages for a range of parameters. The Queensland Department of Natural Resources provides interpolation of climate averages for locations between stations (navigate to SILO website).

BOM Weather Stations in four States (click to enlarge).

WA NT SA QLD


Key Weather Stations relevant for Mars analogue activities
(click images/charts to enlarge)
Location Image Rainfall Temperature
Station
Alice Springs, NT
Longitude
133.89°E
Latitude
23.80°S
Elevation
546 m
Station
Balgo Hills, WA
Longitude
127.99°E
Latitude
20.14°S
Elevation
420 m
Station
Birdsville, QLD
Longitude
139.35°E
Latitude
25.90°S
Elevation
47 m
Station
Coober Pedy, SA
Longitude
134.76°E
Latitude
29.00°S
Elevation
215 m
Station
Giles, WA
Longitude
128.29°E
Latitude
25.04°S
Elevation
598 m
Station
Halls Creek, WA
Longitude
127.66°E
Latitude
18.23°S
Elevation
422 m
Station
Kulgera, NT
Longitude
133.30°E
Latitude
25.84°S
Elevation
509 m
Station
Leigh Creek, SA
Longitude
138.41°E
Latitude
30.47°S
Elevation
194 m
No Image
Station
Moomba, SA
Longitude
140.21°E
Latitude
28.11°S
Elevation
39 m
Station
Oodnadatta, SA
Longitude
135.45°E
Latitude
27.58°S
Elevation
117 m
No Image
Station
Woomera, SA
Longitude
136.82°E
Latitude
31.15°S
Elevation
167 m
Station
Yulara, NT
Longitude
130.97°E
Latitude
25.19°S
Elevation
492 m