Paper Example on Climate of Darwin, Australia

Introduction

Darwin is the capital city of the Northern part of Australia and it is a region that was founded by John Stokes in 1839, and the area was named after the Charles Darwin who was a British naturalist. The region has two seasons every year which are hot and dry.

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Average Temperature and How it Varies During the Year

The wet season happens in January and February, and the region experiences overnight rains and heavy and dump afternoons and the average temperatures during this period ranges from 24.6 C to around 31.9 C and the rain starts to subside around March and April. The dry season is experienced during May to September, and this is the time of the year when the region is popular with the tourists as the weather is dry and good for touring. The humidity levels are low during this period while the nights are always cool and the average temperature during this time of the year averages 19.3 to 32.6 C/. The pre-monsoon period is experienced from October to December, and there exist lighting storms, and locals watch the show from restaurants and bars (de Vet, 2017). The table given below shows the temperature levels in this region.

The region is located near a water body, and it can be noted that the water temperature is seasonal during the year and water waters are experienced for around 5.8 months starting 25th October to 20th April. Cool waters with low-temperature levels are in roughly 2.4 months, and this is from June 18th to August 30th. The diagram below shows the way that the water temperatures vary across the year.

Precipitation and How It Varies During the Year

In Darwin, the wet day is the one that registers 0.04 inches of precipitation and liquid elements. The probability of experiencing wet days in this region vary significantly and the wetter duration lasts for 5.1 months with a 39% chance of a given day being wet between November and April. The likeliness of a 78% of a day being wet is at peak around January 25th. The drier season lasts for 6.9 months and this is starting April to November and the smallest chance of experiencing a wet day during this time of the year (June 22) is 0%. On the issue of the wet day, the categorization is made based on those that receive snow or rain alone, or a mixture of both and according to this form of categorizing the wetness of a given day (Daniel, 2018). The precipitation form that is common in Darwin Australia is rain with January 25 experiencing a peak of 78% as shown in the table below.

Prevailing Surface Winds and how They Vary During the Year

The winds in Darwin are determined at 10 meters above the ground, and it can be noted that the winds that are experienced at a given region vary based on the topography in that area. The speed and direction of the wind tend to vary widely rather than the case of hourly averages which varies with the windier section of the year lasting for around 4.1 months, and this is from April 11 to August 13 with the winds averaging 8.5 miles for every hour. On June 9th, speeds of 10.4 miles per hour are recorded making the day the windiest in the whole calendar year in Darwin, Australia. The calmer period of the year lasts for a long period of 7.9 months, and this is from August to April with November 10th recording the average hourly speeds of 6.7 miles. For around 5.8 months, the winds blow from the east, and this is from March to September while the peak at 79% being registered in May 2nd. The wind most of the time moves from the North for around1.8 months starting September to November, and the peak is registered at 44% in October. From the west, the winds blow for 4.4 months from November to March with the peak being experienced on January 1 at 63%. The diagram given below shows the direction of the wind during the year in Darwin, Australia.

Nearby Geographic Features like Mountain Ranges or Deserts and how They Impact the Climate

Darwin region covers around sixth of the whole country and mainland Australia and it has various geographic features that make the region attractive to many tourists globally. Around 6,000 km lies on the coastline, and it is mainly flat and covered in mangroves, mudflats, and swamps. Many years of continued erosion has left the land bare and flat, and the highest degradation levels are in the region is the MacDonnell ridges which are barely 600 m high. The Arnhem Land plateau reaches the height of around 450 m as its sides away towards the coastline, and the Uluru or the Ayers Rock has 348 m. The region mainly contains savannah, gorges, and wetlands and it mainly forms the entry point to Australia for the tourists who are arriving at the county from South East Asia. There is a national park that is jointly managed by the traditional owners of the land and the Australian government, and the Nitmiluk National Park has the Katherine Gorge. Some rivers flow in this region among them the Todd and Finke, and they usually flow from the south-central ranges and in the other side of the Precambrian plateau, there lie the Victorian rivers that flow to the Timor Sea.

Mangroves in Darwin affect the climate positively for they assist in stopping the erosion and control the destruction of the coastlines by hurricane winds and floods, storms and waves. They usually stabilize the sediments with the root system meaning that soil is not washed into the sea. They filter pollutants, maintain the water clarity and quality in addition to the trapping of the sediments that originate from the land. If the pollutants are allowed to flow into the sea, there is the possibility of plants and animals dying meaning that there would be no life in this area. The issue may turn Darwin into a desert with nothing economical happening in the area. Additionally, ensuring that soil is not washed into the sea means that the fertile soils are held onto the land allowing plants to grow as a cover, facilitating the precipitation process to happen and make sure that the area remains cool. The ranges and plateaus have led to the blocking of rain on one side of the range (leeward) while leading to attracting of rain on the other side (windward). As the wind blows over the plateaus, it mixes with the cool air leading to the formation of precipitation in Darwin. This may be the reason why there exist two different climates due to the air flow. The ranges in this region have led to the weather cooling and the constant rains received around the ranges and plateaus is because of the cool temperatures that are found at the top of the ranges.

Oceanic Influences

The ocean usually influences the operations, weather and temperature level in Darwin and it can be noted that the temperatures in this region are the sea surface temperature (SST). The wet and dry seasons that are experienced in Darwin are usually affected by the ocean condition since when the winds are blowing towards the land, the temperatures are low due to the breeze. In some cases, the tides and waves may lead to the raising of the sea level, and this means that the tourist operations in the region will be affected and people should be careful to avoid finding themselves in catastrophic conditions.

Exposure to Weather Systems like Mid-Latitude Cyclones or Hurricanes

Darwin is a region that is often devastated by hurricanes and cyclones that usually pose threat to the communities and organizations based in the area. The northern part of Australia is close to the equator, and it is the part where cyclones are formed, and when they form at the coastline, it is difficult to understand or notice any warning. The people and facilities along the coast are thus destroyed leading to massive damages. They form during the time of monsoon troughs between November and April with on average 7.7 days per season when the cyclone affects the region. The Gulf of Carpentaria is one of the regions that is adversely affected by the hurricanes and cyclones. In March 2018, the region experienced the largest cyclone in over 30 years that left a significant number of residents without drinkable water or electricity.

Koppen Classification

According to Koppen classification, the climate in Darwin is described as the "Aw" or the Tropical Savanna Climate with the average temperatures being 82.0F (27.8C). The region has an elevation of 102 feet, with a latitude of 12 26S and longitude of 130 53E.

Likely Aviation Weather Hazards

When hurricanes and cyclones hit Darwin, Australia, the airspace becomes impassable due to the strong winds that can lead to accidents and the aviation players tend to avoid the region in such circumstances. When the precipitation levels are high, visibility may become a problem for the pilots, and it is recommendable if the region can be avoided until the weather improves. The changes in the aviation gas compositions lead to the engine components of the helicopters to wear out faster, and this may lead to mid-air failure. The elevated combustion temperatures have triggered degradation in the level of engine performance.

Impact of ENSO on the Climate

El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) affect the climate condition in Darwin for it can be noted to lead to positive winter temperatures, they cause evapotranspiration and reduced snow depth. The increased cases of wildfire can be attributed to the ENSO impacts, and this is a common feature in Darwin and Australia in general.

How Climate Impacts the Types of Industry, Agriculture, and Recreation

The closeness to the sea means that the Darwin region is suitable for the growth and expansion of the fishing industry with a significant number of organizations established in the area (Goldie, Sherwood, Green & Alexander, 2015). Tourism is also a major economic activity, especially during the warm seasons.

References

Daniel, L. (2018). 'We like to live in the weather': Cooling practices in naturally ventilated dwellings in Darwin, Australia. Energy and Buildings, 158, 549-557. de Vet, E. (2017). Experiencing and responding to everyday weather in Darwin, Australia: The important role of tolerance. Weather, Climate, and Society, 9(2), 141-154.

Goldie, J., Sherwood, S. C., Green, D., & Alexander, L. (2015). Temperature and humidity effects on hospital morbidity in Darwin, Australia. Annals of global health, 81(3), 333-341.