Open AccessSeasonal climate summary for the southern hemisphere (summer 2017–18): an exceptionally warm season for Australia – a short-lived and weak La Niña
Author(s) -
T Tihema
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of southern hemisphere earth systems science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.404
H-Index - 7
ISSN - 2206-5865
DOI - 10.1071/es19018
Subject(s) - southern hemisphere , climatology , environmental science , northern hemisphere , geography , atmospheric circulation , oceanography , sea surface temperature , geology
This is a summary of the southern hemisphere atmospheric circulation patterns and meteorological indices for summer 2017–18; an account of seasonal rainfall and temperature for the Australian region is also provided. A short-lived and weak La Niña developed but decayed by the end of February 2018. Sea-surface temperatures were exceptionally warm in the Tasman Sea from late 2017 to early 2018. It was an exceptionally warm summer for Australia, and the third-warmest mean temperature on record for the nation. Summer rainfall was close to the long-term average for Australia, with aboveaverage rainfall in west and below-average rainfall in the east.