PENNSVALLEY
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Lesson 32:
Climate of Australia
Now that we are south of the Equator, climate patterns are the reverse of those in the northern
hemisphere.That is, the farther north you go, thewarmer it gets as you travel toward theEquator.The
farther south you travel, the cooler it gets. In addition, when you are south of theTropic of Capricorn,
thewarmest summermonths are January andFebruary.The coldest wintermonths are Juneand July.
The climate zones in Australia range from tropical to temperate. Most Australians live in the
temperate climate zones located in the east, southeast, and southwest areas of Australia within 250
miles of the coast.
About 40 percent of Australia is north of theTropic of Capricorn.The north, aroundDarwin and the
CapeYorkPeninsula, has a tropical rainy climate. It is hot all year and humid during the summer rainy
season.The interior, west, and south are arid or semi-arid and very hot in summer.Temperatures can
reach122° F.Theonly regions that receive snow in thewinter are themountainsof southeast Australia
and the highlands of Tasmania.
Overall, except for Antarctica, Australia is the driest continent. Most of the western and central
regions of Australia have an extremely dry climate. Some areas can experience months of drought.
This can result in raging bush fires.However, the climate of the eastern coastal regions of Australia is
influenced by the ocean. Some areas can receivemore than 80 inches of precipitation.
ACTIVITY 1:
To locate answers to the following questions, refer to the information above.
1.Which continent receives lessmoisture thanAustralia?
2. If youwere visitingSydney in the summer, duringwhat
monthwould be visiting?
3.What type of climate doesmost of Australia’s central
andwest regions have?
4.Would you expect it to bewarmer inMelbourne in
August or February?
5. Inwhat climate zone domost Australians live?
6.Howmuch of Australia is located in a tropical zone?
7.Wherewould you expect to find tropical rainforests?
in theCapeYork Peninsula, or Tasmania?
8.What event can result frommonths of drought?
