Australia’sClimate and Vegetation

Syllabus Students Learn About: Students Learn To:

patterns of: • climate• natural resources • weather• vegetation

describe Australia’s major physical features and patterns explain the interrelationships that exist in the physical environment of Australia

Climate and Rainfall The size and location of

Australia means a variety of climates

Australia is known as a “dry continent”

Around 80% of Australia has less than 600mm of rainfall per year

50% has less than 300mm of rainfall p.y.

Rainfall is low and inconsistent meaning droughts

Pressure Systems The main reason for our “dry continent”

is because our continent is dominated by high pressure

High pressure = dry, stable, sinking air

Pressure Systems The wettest parts of Australia are northern

and eastern In summer, troughs of low pressure come

from the equator Low pressure = moist, unstable air (rain)

Temperature Temperature is

often influenced by proximity to the equator

The sun is more powerful at latitudes closer to the equator

Therefore Darwin is hotter than Melbourne as it’s at a higher latitude

Temperature

Inland Australia is normally warmer in the summer and colder in the winter than coastal Australia.

This is because the ocean heats and cools more slowly and this impacts surrounding land.

Vegetation Australia has a wide variety of

vegetation because of its size Because of the dry climate 40% is

covered by grassland and shrubs In higher rainfall areas trees dominate In medium to high rainfall areas much of

the natural vegetation has been cleared for agriculture and industry