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Mixed odds for summer rainfall across south-eastern Australia |
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There is a low chance of average rainfall (35% to 40%) occurring during the December quarter with drier conditions favoured for the regions of western Victoria, South Australia (SA) and northern Tasmania (see Figure 1). That’s according to the latest seasonal outlook from the Bureau of Meteorology which was updated on November 23. In central and eastern Victoria, the outlook is for average rainfall.
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A warmer summer favoured for southern Australia |
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According to the Bureau of Meteorology’s latest Seasonal Outlook issued on November 23, the maximum temperature outlook for the December to February quarter, across south-eastern Australia, is favouring warmer than average temperatures for Victoria, Tasmania, southern New South Wales (NSW) and the southern half of South Australia (SA). While cooler than average conditions are favoured for north-eastern NSW (see Figure 1).
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La Niña persists in the Pacific |
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La Niña conditions have weakened slightly but remain firm across the tropical Pacific. Long-range models surveyed by the Bureau of Metrology (BoM) and published in the latest ENSO Wrap-Up which was released on November 24 suggest that this La Niña event will persist through the southern hemisphere summer and into the first quarter of 2011.
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Climatedogs – rounding up the good and the bad weather |
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If you don’t understand what drives our climate why don’t you meet Enso, Indy, Ridgy and Sam? They are the new ‘Climatedogs’  on the Victorian Department of Primary Industries’ (DPI) Climate webpage who represent four climate drivers that affect the rainfall variability across Victoria.
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Rainfall outlooks – why they sometimes differ |
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Have you ever wondered why sometimes you hear different weather outlooks for the same period? Well that is because the Bureau of Meteorology rely on two different predictive models to generate seasonal weather outlooks, one official and one experimental. Dr Andrew Watkins from the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) and Rod Eldridge from the Victorian Department of Primary Industries explain…
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Appreciating the state of “our” groundwater |
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 Many horticultural growers rely upon a variety of water sources, one of which is groundwater. Groundwater is water stored in saturated areas in the ground called aquifers. Over the recent dry period, aquifers have been a valuable source of water to growers fortunate enough to be able to access this asset.
DPI Senior Research Hydrogeologist, Bruce Gill takes a look at some of the observation bores across the State used to monitor aquifers and warns that one winter is not enough to restore groundwater levels to pre-drought levels.
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Finding new crops for a changing climate |
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Have you ever heard of red bayberry, rambutan, riberry or what about olives and coffee? They are just a sample of the new plant products and new and emerging industries reported by RIRDC (Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation) funded research projects.
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Understanding the meaning behind greenhouse gas emissions |
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A recent survey found Victorian horticulture growers are significantly concerned about anything associated with greenhouse gas emissions. The survey, conducted by the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) last year, discovered that 66% of the growers believed that their business was either storing carbon or was a neutral emitter. While up to 20% didn’t know if their farm business was an emitter or a storer of carbon.
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Sun protection methods become vital tools as days of intense heat increase |
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By 2030, Victoria’s average annual temperatures are projected to rise by 0.3oC to 1.6oC meaning the number of days over 35oC will nearly double.
Fruit growers are considering how to prepare for such conditions with options like netting or spray-on sun-screen products, that may protect their valuable fruit.
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For more information about any of the stories outlined in this report or if you have any case studies or research articles of interest, please contact:
Pam Strange
Climate Adjustment Project Manager
Horticulture Branch
Farm Services Victoria Department of Primary Industries
T: (03) 5051 4571 M: 0437 748 422 E: pam.strange@dpi.vic.gov.au
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