Teleconnections (El Nino/La Nina)

teleconnection

large scale pattern of pressure and circulation that covers large geographical areas that can modify pressure fields (that then change winds, clouds, and precipitation)

Impact of El Nino on air temp, precipitation, bushfire risk, and drought in QLD

• lower temperatures

• below average rainfall

• higher bushfire risk

• more drought risk (because of less rain)

Impact of La Nina on air temp, precipitation, bushfire risk, and drought in QLD

• higher temperatures

• above average rainfall

• lower bushfire risk

• less drought (because of more rain)

SE QLD Seabreeze

prominent coastal weather feature; caused by temperature differences between land and sea (and day and night)

Onshore Daytime Breeze

• land heats up faster than sea

• L pressure on land

• H pressure over sea

• Wind goes from sea to land (high to low)

Offshore Nighttime Breeze

• land cools faster than sea

• H pressure over land

• L pressure over sea

• Wind goes from land to sea (high to low)

0500 hour breeze

(offshore nighttime land breeze)

• land has cooled over night

• H on land, L on sea

• breeze flows from land to sea

• atmosphere is stable, air may rise

1100 hour breeze

(transitioning sea breeze)

• sun rising = land warming

• pressure on land decreases

• pressure on sea increases

• eventually breeze moves from sea to land

1500 hour breeze

(onshore daytime seabreeze)

• strongest during this time

• land is hot, sea is cold

• L over land, H over sea

• breeze moves from sea to land

• cumulus clouds may occur

2300 hour breeze

(transitioning land breeze)

• land cools, sea warms

• L over sea, H over land

• seabreeze collapses

• clear, stable skies

land breeze

Wind that originates over the land and blows toward the sea (offshore).

sea breeze

Wind that originates over the sea and blows toward the land (onshore).

el nino

warm phase (warmer sea temps)

la nina

cool phase (cooler sea temps)